{"1": {"fulltext": "^1 -W^", "height": "3802", "width": "2513", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0001.jp2"}, "2": {"fulltext": "LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.\\nOhapX- CopyrigM Ko\\ni^ 0^=^\\nUNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "height": "3669", "width": "2332", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0002.jp2"}, "3": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3669", "width": "2332", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0003.jp2"}, "4": {"fulltext": "^^\u00e2\u0096\u00a0tf\\n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^P^\\ni^H^^^^^^^H\\n^^K\\nfudpf^^ _ i^^B^HHHu\\nw^^^^^^^^^\\n^sin^^H\\n^^^^HMJiP Jl^^^^^^\\nSH^^^^^^^^^ --^X \u00e2\u0080\u00a2?-Jjr \u00c2\u00ab!r\u00c2\u00bbrt iax3gcS\\n\u00e2\u0096\u00a0\u00e2\u0096\u00a0H\\nBenjamin Franklin. 1", "height": "3662", "width": "2317", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0004.jp2"}, "5": {"fulltext": "\u00e2\u0096\u00a0\\\\=(0 0j", "height": "3662", "width": "2317", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0005.jp2"}, "6": {"fulltext": "41970 ^^^t^^o\\n\u00e2\u0080\u00a2ese\\nLibrary of C\u00c2\u00bbn\u00c2\u00ab\\nwo COPlfS RtCfWEO\\nSEP 1 1900\\nC\u00c2\u00bb^yf ght entry\\nno.. ^Qjrtf,\\nSECOND copy.\\nOHDtfi DIVISION,\\nLSEP 5 1900\\nCopyright, 1900, by W. b. Conkey Company.\\n74151", "height": "3662", "width": "2317", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0006.jp2"}, "7": {"fulltext": "LIFE\\nor\\nDR. FRANKLIN.\\nMy DEiB SOK,\\nI HAVE amused myself with collecting some\\nlittle anecdotes of my family. You may re-\\nmember the inquiries I made, when you were\\nwith me in England, among such of my rela-\\ntions as were then living and the journey 1\\nundertook for that purpose. To be ac-\\nquainted with the particulars of my parent-\\nage and life, many of which are unknown to\\nyou, I flatter myself will aflford the same\\npleasure to you as to me. I shall relate them\\nupon paper it will be an agreeable employ-\\nment of a week s uninterrupted leisure, which\\nI promise myself during my present retire-\\nment in the country. There are also other\\nmotives which induce me to the undertakinir.", "height": "3662", "width": "2317", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0007.jp2"}, "8": {"fulltext": "4 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nFrom the bosom of poverty and obscurity, in\\nwhich I drew my first breath, and spent my\\nearliest years, I have raised myself to a state\\nof opulence and to some degree of celebrity\\nin the world. A constant good fortune has\\nattended me through every period of life to\\nmy present advanced age and my descend-\\nants may be desirous of learning what were\\nthe means of which I made use, and which,\\nthanks to the assisting hand of Providence,\\nhave proved so eminently successful. They\\nmay, also, should they ever be placed in a\\nsimilar situation, derive some advantage from\\nmy narrative.\\nWhen I reflect, as I frequently do, upon\\nthe felicity I have enjoyed, I sometimes say\\nto myself, that were the offer made true, I\\nwould engage to nm again, from beginning\\nto end, the same career of life. All I would\\nask, should be the privilege of an author, to\\ncorrect, in a second edition, certain errors of\\nthe first. I could wish, likewise, if it were\\nin my power, to change some trivial inci-\\ndents and events for others more favorable.\\nWere this, however, denied me, still would I\\nnot decline the ofier. But since a repetition", "height": "3662", "width": "2317", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0008.jp2"}, "9": {"fulltext": "MPE OP DR. FRANKLIN. 5\\nof life cannot take place, there is nothing\\nwhich, in my opinion, so nearly resembles it,\\nas to call to mind all its circumstances, and,\\nto render their remembrance more durable,\\ncommit them to writing. By thus employing\\nmyself, I shall yield to the inclination so nat-\\nural in old men, to talk of themselves and\\ntheir exploits, and may freely follow my\\nbent, without being tiresome to those who,\\nfrom respect to my age, might think them-\\nselves obliged to listen to me as they will\\nbe at liberty to read me or not as they please.\\nIn fine and I may as well avow it, since\\nnobody would believe me were I to deny it\\nI shall, perhaps, by this employment, grat-\\nify my vanity. Scarcely, indeed, have I ever\\nheard or read the introductory phrase,\\nmay say without vanity but some striking\\nand characteristic instance of vanity has im-\\nmediately followed. The generality of men\\nhate vanity in others, however strongly they\\nmay be tinctured with it themselves for my-\\nself, I pay obeisance to it wherever I meet\\nwith it, persuaded that it is advantageous, as\\nwell to the individual whom it governs, as to\\nthose who are within the sphere of its influ-", "height": "3662", "width": "2317", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0009.jp2"}, "10": {"fulltext": "6 LIFE OP DB. FRANKLIN.\\nence. Of consequence, it would, in many\\ncases, not be wholly absurd, that a man\\nshould count his vanity among the other\\nsweets of life, and give thanks to Providence\\nfor the blessing.\\nAnd here let me with all humility acknowl-\\nedge, that to Divine Providence I am in-\\ndebted for the felicity I have hitherto en-\\njoyed. It is that power alone which has\\nfurnished me with the means I have em-\\nployed, and that has crowned them with suc-\\ncess. My faith, in this respect, leads me to\\nhope, though I cannot count upon it, that the\\nDivine goodness will still be exercised to-\\nwards me, either by prolonging the duration\\nof my happiness to the close of life, or by\\ngiving me fortitude to support any melan-\\ncholy reverse, which may happen to me, as\\nto so many others. My future fortune is un-\\nknown but to Him in whose hand is our des-\\ntiny, and who can make our very afflictions\\nsubservient to our benefit..\\nOne of my uncles, desirous, like myself, of\\ncollecting anecdotes of our family, gave me\\nsome notes from which I have derived many\\nparticulars respecting our ancestors. From", "height": "3662", "width": "2317", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0010.jp2"}, "11": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKUN. 7\\nthese I learn that they had lived in the same\\nvillage (Eaton in Northamptonshire), upon a\\nfreehold of about thirty acres, for the space\\nat least of three hundred years. How long\\nthey had resided there, prior to that period,\\nmy uncle had been unable to discover prob-\\nably ever since the institution of surnames,\\nwhen they took the appellation of Franklin,\\nwhich had formerly been the name of a par-\\nticular order of individuals.*\\nThis petty estate would not have sufficed\\nfor their subsistence, had they not added the\\nAs a proof that Franklin was anciently the common\\nname of an order or rank in England, see Judge For-\\ntesque, Ddaudibtu legum Angl% By written about the jeai\\n1412, in which is the following passage, to show that\\ngood juries might easily be formed in any part of Eng-\\nland\\nRegio etiam ilia, ita respersa refertaque est jpom\u00c2\u00ab-\\ntorihus terrarum et agrorum, quod in ea, villula tam par^\\nTa reperiri non poterit, in qua non est est mtlet, armiger,\\nvel pater-familias, qualis ibidem /ranArZm vulgariter nun-\\noupatur, magnisditatus possessionibus, nee non libere\\ntenentes et alii valecti plurimi, suis patrimoniis suffici-\\nentes, ad faciendum juratam, in forma prsenotata.\\nMoreover, the same country is so filled and replen-\\nished with landed menne, that therein so small a thorpe\\noannQt be found wherein dwelleth not a knight, an es-\\nquire or such a householder as is there commonly called", "height": "3662", "width": "2317", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0011.jp2"}, "12": {"fulltext": "LIFE OP DB. FRANKLIN.\\ntrade of blacksmith, which was perpetuated\\nin the family down to my uncle s time, the\\neldest son having been uniformly brought up\\nto this employment a custom which both he\\nand my father observed with respect to their\\neldest sons.\\nIn the researches I made at Eaton, I found\\nno account of their births, marriages, and\\ndeaths, earlier than the year 1555, the par-\\nish register not extending farther back than\\nthat period. This register informed me, that\\nT was the youngest son of the youngest\\nbranch of the family, counting five genera-\\ntions. My grandfather, Thomas, was born\\nin 1598, lived at Eaton till he was too old to\\na franklin^ enriched with great possessions and also\\nother freeholders and many yeomen, able for their live-\\nlihood to make a jury in form aforementione l.\\nOld Translation.\\nChaucer too calls his country gentleman a franklin\\nand, after describing his good housekeeping, thus j^\u00c2\u00bbr-\\nacterizes him\\nThis worthy franklin bore a purse of silk\\nFixed to his girdle, white as morning milk\\nKnight of the shire, first justice at the assii*^\\nTo help the poor, the doubtful to advise.\\nIn all employments, generous, just he prove4\\nRenown d for courtesy, by all beloved.", "height": "3662", "width": "2317", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0012.jp2"}, "13": {"fulltext": "UPE OP DR. FRANKLIN. 9\\ncontinue his trade, when he retired to Ban-\\nbury, in^ Oxfordshire, where his son John,\\nwho was a dyer, resided, and with whom my\\nfather was apprenticed. He died, and was\\nburied there we saw his monument in 1758.\\nHis eldest son lived in the family house at\\nEaton, which he bequeathed, with the land\\nbelonging to it, to his only daughter, who, in\\nconcert with her husband, Mr. Fisher of\\nWellingborough, afterwards sold it to Mr.\\nEstead, the present proprietor.\\nMy grandfather had four surviving sons,\\nThomas, John, Benjamin, and Josias. I shall\\ngive you such particulars of them as my mem-\\nory will furnish, not having my papers here,\\nin which you will find a more minute account,\\nif they are not lost during my absence.\\nThomas had learned the trade of a black-\\nsmith under his father; but, possessing a.\\ngood natural understanding, he improved it\\nby study, at the solicitation of a gentleman\\nof the name of Palmer, who was at that time\\nthe principal inhabitant of the village, and\\nwho encouraged, in like manner, all my un-\\ncles to cultivate their minds. Thomas thus\\nrendered himself competent to the functions\\n2 Franklin", "height": "3662", "width": "2317", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0013.jp2"}, "14": {"fulltext": "10 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nof a country attorney soon became an es-\\nsential personage in the affairs of the village\\nand was one of the chief movers of every\\npublic enterprise, as well relative to the\\ncounty as the town of Northampton. A va-\\nriety of of remarkable incidents were told us\\nof him at Eaton. After enjoying the esteem\\nand patronage of Lord Halifax, he died Jan-\\nuary 6, 1702, precisely four years before I\\nwas born. The recital that was made us of\\nhis life and character, by some aged persons\\nof the village, struck you, I remember, as ex-\\ntraordinary, from its analogy to what you\\nknew of myself. Had he died, said you,\\njust four years later, one might have sup-\\nposed a transmigration of souls.\\nJohn, to the best of my belief, was brought\\nup to the trade of a wool-dyer.\\nBenjamin served his apprenticeship in Lon-\\ndon to a silk-dyer. He was an industrious\\nman I remember him well for, while I was\\na child, he joined my father at Boston, and\\nlived for some years in the house with us. A\\nparticular affection had always subsisted be-\\ntween my father and him and I was his\\ngodson. He arrived to a great age. He Ic-ft", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0014.jp2"}, "15": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FR/NKLIN. 11\\nbehind him two quarto volumes of poems ia\\nmanuscript, consisting of little fugitive pieces\\naddressed to his friends. He had invented a\\nshort-hand, which he taught me, but, having\\nnever made use of it, I have now forgotten\\nit. He was a man of piety, and a constant\\nattendant on the best preachers, whose ser-\\nmons he took a pleasure in writing down ac-\\ncording to the expeditory method he had de-\\nvised. Many volumes were thus collected by\\nhim. He was also extremely fond of politics\\ntoo much so, perhaps, for his situation. I\\nlately found in London a collection which he\\nhad made of all the principal pamphlets rel-\\native to public affairs, from the year 1641 to\\n1717. Many volumes are wanting, as ap-\\npears by the series of numbers but there\\nstill remain eight in folio, and twenty-four in\\nquarto and octavo. The collection had fallen\\ninto the hands of a second-hand bookseller,\\nwho, knowing me by having sold me some\\nbooks, brought it to me. My uncle, it seems,\\nhad left it behind him on his departure for\\nAmerica, about fifty years ago. I found vari-\\nous notes of his writing in the margins. IIis\\ngrandson, Samuel, is now living at Boston.", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0015.jp2"}, "16": {"fulltext": "12 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nOur humble family had early embraced the\\nReformation. They remained faithfully at-\\ntached during the reign of Queen Mary, when\\nthey were in danger of being molested on ac-\\ncount of their zeal against popery. They had\\nan English Bible, and, to conceal it the more\\nsecurely, they conceived the project of fast-\\nening it, open, with packthreads across the\\nleaves, on the inside of the lid of the ch:)se-\\nstool. When my great-grandfather wished\\nto read to his family, he reversed the lid of\\nthe close-\u00c2\u00abtool upon his knees, and passed the\\nleaves from one side to the other, which were\\nheld down on each by the packthread. One\\nof the children was stationed at the door, to\\ngive notice if he saw the proctor (an officer\\nof the spiritual court) make his appearance\\nin that case, the lid was restored to its place,\\nwith the Bible concealed under it as before.\\nI had this anecdote from my uncle Benjamin.\\nThe whole family preserved its attachment\\nto the Church of England till towards the\\nclose of the reign of Charles II. when certain\\nministers, who had been rejected as noncon-\\nformists, having held conventicles in North-\\namptonshire, they were joined by Benjamin", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0016.jp2"}, "17": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 13\\nand Josias, who adhered to them ever after.\\nThe rest of the family continued in the epis-\\ncopal church.\\nMy father, Josias, married early in life.\\nHe went, with his wife and three children,\\nto New England, about the year 1682. Con-\\nventicles being at that time prohibited by\\nlaw, and frequently disturbed, some consid-\\nerable persons of his acquaintance deter-\\nmined to go to America, where they hoped\\nto enjoy the free exercise of their religion,\\nand my father was prevailed on to accom-\\npany them.\\nMy father had also, by the same wife, four\\nchildren born in America, and ten others by\\na second wife, making in all seventeen. I\\nremember to have seen thirteen seated to-\\ngether at his table, who all arrived at years\\nof maturity, and were married. I was the\\nlast of the sons, and the youngest child, ex-\\ncepting two daughters. I was born at Bos-\\nton, in New England. My mother, the sec-\\nond wife, was Abiah Folger, daughter of\\nPeter Folger, one of the first colonists of\\nNew England, of whom Cotton Mather makes\\nhonorable mention, in his Ecclesiastical His-\\nB", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0017.jp2"}, "18": {"fulltext": "14 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN,\\ntory of that province, as a pious and\\nlearned Unglishmariy** if I rightly recollect\\nhis expressions. I hav^ been told of his\\nhaving written a variety of little pieces but\\nthere appears to be only one in print, which\\nI met with many years ago. It was pub-\\nlished in the year 1675, and is in familiar\\nverse, agreeably to the taste of the times\\nand the country. The author addresses him-\\nself to the governors for the time being,\\nspeaks for liberty of conscience, and in favor\\nof the anabaptists, quakers, and other sec-\\ntaries, who had suffered persecution. To\\nthis persecution he attributes the wars with\\nthe natives, and other calamities which af-\\nflicted the country, regarding them as the\\njudgments of God in punishment of so odi-\\nous an offence, and he exhorts the govern-\\nment to the repeal of laws so contrary to\\ncharity. The poem appeared to be written\\nwith a manly freedom and a pleasing sim-\\nplicity. I recollect the six concluding lines,\\nthough I have forgotten the order of words\\nof the two first the sense of which was, that\\nbis censures were dictated by benevolence,\\nand that, of consequence, he wished to be", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0018.jp2"}, "19": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. JD\\nknown as the author; because, said he, I\\nhate from my very soul dissimulation.\\nFrom Sherbum,* where I dwell,\\nI therefore put my name,\\nTour friend, who means jou well.\\nPbtxb Folgbb.\\nMy brothers were all put apprentices to\\ndifferent trades. With respect to myself, I\\nwas sent, at the age of eight years, to a\\ngrammar-school. My father destined me for\\nthe church, and already regarded me as the\\nchaplain of my family. The promptitude\\nwith which from my infancy I had learned\\nto read, for I do not remember to have been\\never without this acquirement, and the en-\\ncouragement of his friends, who assured him\\nthat I should one day certainly become a\\nman of letters, coniBrmed him in this design.\\nMy uncle Benjamin approved also of the\\nscheme, and promised to give me all his vol-\\numes of sermons, written, as I have said, in\\nthe short-hand of his invention, if I would\\ntake the pains to learn it.\\nI remained, however, scarcely a year at\\nTown in the island of Nantucket", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0019.jp2"}, "20": {"fulltext": "16 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nthe grammar-school, although, in this short\\ninterval, I had risen from the middle to the\\nhead of my class, from thence to the class\\nimmediately above, and was to pass, at the\\nend of the year, to the one next in order.\\nBut my father, burdened with a numerous\\nfamily, found that he was incapable, without\\nsubjecting himself to difficulties, of providing\\nfor the expenses of a collegiate education;\\nand considering, besides, as I heard him say\\nto his friends, that persons so educated were\\noften poorly provided for, he renounced his\\nfirst intentions, took me from the grammar-\\nschool, and sent me to a school for writing\\nand arithmetic, kept by a Mr. George Brown-\\nwell, who was a skilful master, and succeeded\\nvery well in his profession by employing gen-\\ntle means only, and such as were calculated\\nto encourage his scholars. Under him I soon\\nacquired an excellent hand but I failed in\\narithmetic, and made therein no sort of pro-\\ngress.\\nAt ten years of age, I was called home to\\nassist my father in his occupation, which was\\nthat of a soapboiler and tallowchandler a\\nbusiness to which he had served no appren-", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0020.jp2"}, "21": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 17\\nticeship, but which he embraced on his ar-\\nrival in New England, because he found his\\nown, that of dyer, in too little request to\\nenable him to maintain his family. I was\\naccordingly employed in cutting the wicks,\\nfilling the moulds, taking care of the shop,\\ncarrying messages, c.\\nThis business displeased me, and I felt a\\nstrong inclination for a sea life; but my\\nfather set his face against it. The vicinity\\nof the water, however, gave me frequent op-\\nportunities of venturing myself both upon\\nand within it, and I soon acquired the art of\\nswimming, and of managing a boat. When\\nembarked with other children, the helm was\\ncommonly deputed to me, particularly on\\ndifficult occasions and, in every other pro-\\nject, I was almost always the leader of the\\ntroop, whom I sometimes involved in embar-\\nrassments. I shall give an instance of this,\\nwhich demonstrates an early disposition of\\nmind for public enterprises, though the one\\nin question was not conducted by justice.\\nThe millpond was terminated on one side\\nby a marsh, upon the borders of which we\\nwere accustomed to take our stand, at hi2:h", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0021.jp2"}, "22": {"fulltext": "18 LIFE OF DR. FRANKIJN.\\nwater, to angle for small fish. By dint of\\nwalking, we had converted the place into a\\nperfect quagmire. My proposal w^as to erect\\na wharf that should aflford us firm footing\\nand I pointed out to my companions a large\\nheap of stones, intended for the building a\\nnew house near the marsh, and which were\\nwell adapted for our purpose. Accordingly,\\nwhen the workmen retired in the evening, I\\nassembled a number of my play-fellows, and\\nby laboring diligently, like ants, sometimes\\nfour of us uniting our strength to carry a\\nsingle stone, w^e removed them all, and con-\\nstructed our little quay. The workmen were\\nsurprised the next morning at not finding\\ntheir stones; which had been conveyed to\\nour wharf. Inquiries were made respecting\\nthe authors of this conveyance we were dis-\\n;overed; complaints were exhibited against\\nus and many of us underwent correction on\\nthe part of our parents and though I stren-\\nuously defended tlie utility of tlie work, my\\nfather at length convinced me, that nothing\\nwhich was not strictly honest could be useful.\\nIt will not, perhaps, be uninteresting to\\njou to know what sort of a man my father", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0022.jp2"}, "23": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF BR. FRANKLIN. 19\\nwas. He had an excellent constitution, was\\nof a middle size, but well made and strong,\\nand extremely active in whatever he under-\\ntook. He designed with a degree of neat-\\nness, and knew a little of music. His voice\\nwas sonorous and agreeable; so that when\\nhe sung a psalm or hymn, with the accompa-\\nniment of his violin, as was his frequent\\npractice in an evening, when the labors of\\nthe day were finished, it was truly delightful\\nto hear him. He was versed also in me-\\nchanics, and could, upon occasion, use the\\ntools of a variety of trades. But his great-\\nest exceilence was a sound understanding\\nand solid judgment, in matters of prudence,\\nboth in public and private life. In the\\nformer indeed he never engaged, because\\nhis numerous family, and the mediocrity of\\nhis fortune, kept him unremittingly employed\\nin the duties of his profession. But I well\\nremember, that the leading men of the place\\nused frequently to come and ask his advice\\nrespecting the affairs of the town, or of the\\nchurch to which he belonged, and that they\\npaid much deference to his opinion. Indi-\\nviduals were also in the habit of consulting", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0023.jp2"}, "24": {"fulltext": "20 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nhim in their private affairs, and he was often\\nchosen arbiter between contending parties.\\nHe was fond of having at his table, as\\noften as possible, some friends or well in-\\nformed neighbors, capable of rational con-\\nversation, and he was always careful to\\nintroduce useful or ingenious topics of dis-\\ncourse, which might tend to form the minds\\nof his children. By this means he early at-\\ntracted our attention to what was just, pru-\\ndent, and beneficial in the conduct of life.\\nHe never talked of the meats which appeared\\nupon the table, never discussed whether they\\nwere well or ill dressed, of a good or bad\\nflavor, high seasoned or otherwise, preferable\\nor inferior to this or that dish of a similar\\nkind. Thus accustomed, from my infancy,\\nto the utmost inattention as to these objects,\\nI have been perfectly regardless of what\\nkind of food was before me and I pay so\\nlittle attention to it even now, that it would\\nbe a hard matter for me to recollect, a few\\nhours after I had dined, of what my dinner\\nhad consisted. When traveling, I have par-\\nticularly experienced the advantage of this\\nhabit for it has often happened to me to be", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0024.jp2"}, "25": {"fulltext": "lilTE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 21\\nin company with persons, who, having a more\\ndelicate, because a more exercised, taste, have\\nBuffered in many cases considerable inconve-\\nnience while, as to myself, I have had noth-\\ning to desire.\\nMy mother was likewise possessed of an\\nexcellent constitution. She suckled all her\\nten children, and I never heard either her or\\nmy father complain of any other disorder\\nthan that of which they died my father at\\nthe age of eighty-seven, and my mother at\\neighty-five. They are buried together at\\nBoston, where, a few years ago, I placed a\\nmarble over their grave, with this inscrip-\\ntion\\nHere lies\\nJosiAS Franklin and Abiah his wife They liyed to-\\ngether with reciprocal affection for fifty -nine years and\\nwithout private fortune, without lucrative employment,\\nby assiduous labor and honest industry, decently sup-\\nported a numerous family, and educated with success,\\nthirteen children, and seven grandchildren. Let this\\nexample, reader, encourage thee diligently to discharge\\nthe duties of thy calling, and to rely on the support of\\nDivine Providence.\\nHe was pious and prudent,\\nShe discreet and virtuous.\\nTheir youngest son, from a sentiment of filial dm j\u00c2\u00ab\\nconsecrates this stone to their memory.", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0025.jp2"}, "26": {"fulltext": "22 LIFE OF DR. FRANfcLLlN.\\nI perceive, by my rambling digressions,\\nthat I am growing old. But we do not dress\\nfor a private company as for a formal ball.\\nThis deserves, perhaps, the name of negli-\\ngence.\\nTo return. I thus continued employed in\\nmy father s trade for the space of two years\\nthat is to say, till I arrived at twelve years\\nof age. About this time my brother John^\\nwho had served his apprenticeship in London,\\nhaving quitted my father, and being married\\nand settled in business on his own account at\\nRhode Island, I was destined, to all appear-\\nance, to supply his place, and be a candle\\nmaker all my life but my dislike of this oc*\\ncupation continuing, my father was appre*\\nhensive, that if a more agreeable one were\\nnot oJBfered me, I might play the truant and\\nescape to sea as, to his extreme mortifica*\\ntion, my brother Josias had done. He there*\\nfore took me sometimes to see masons, coop*\\ners, braziers, joiners, and other mechanics^\\nemployed at their work, in order to discover\\nthe bent of my inclination, and fix it if he\\ncould upon some occupation that might re-\\ntain me on shore. I have since, in conse*", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0026.jp2"}, "27": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 2ii\\nquence of these visits, derived no small pleas-\\nure from seeing skilful workmen handle their\\ntools and it has proved of considerable ben-\\nefit, to have acquired thereby sufficient knowl-\\nedge to be able to make little things for my-\\nself, when I have had no mechanic at hand,\\nand to construct small machines for my ex-\\nperiments, while the idea I have conceived\\nhas been fresh and strongly impressed on my\\nimagination.\\nMy father at length decided that I should\\nbe a cutler, and I was placed for some days\\nupon trial with my cousin Samuel, son of my\\nuncle Benjamin, who had learned this trade\\nin London, and had established himself at\\nBoston. But the premium he required for\\nmy apprenticeship displeasing my father, I\\nwas recalled home.\\nFrom my earliest years I had been pas-\\nsionately fond of reading, and I laid out in\\nbooks all the money I could procure. I was\\nparticularly pleased with accounts of voy-\\nages. My first acquisition was Bunyan s col-\\nlection in small separate volumes. These I\\nafterwards sold in order to buy an historical\\ncollection by R. Burton, which consisted of", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0027.jp2"}, "28": {"fulltext": "24 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\namall, cheap volumes, amounting in all to\\nabout forty or fifty. My father s little li-\\nbrary was principally made up of books of\\npractical and polemical theology. I read the\\ngreatest part of them. I have since often re-\\ngretted that at a time when I had so great a\\nthirst for knowledge, more eligible books had\\nnot fallen into my hands, as it was then a\\npoint decided that I should not be educated\\nfor the church. There was also among my\\nfather s books Plutarch s Lives, in which I\\nread continually, and I still regard as advan-\\ntageously employed the time I devoted to\\nthem. I found besides a work of De Foe s,\\nentitled an Essay on Projects, from which,\\nperhaps, I derived impressions that have\\nsince influenced some of the principal events\\nof my life.\\nMy inclination for books at last deter-\\nmined my father to make me a printer,\\nthough he had already a son in that profes-\\nsion. My brother had returned from Eng-\\nland in 1717, with a press and types, in or-\\nder to establish a printing-house at Boston.\\nThis business pleased me much better than\\nthat of my father, though I had still a predi-", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0028.jp2"}, "29": {"fulltext": "LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN. 25\\nlection for the sea. To prevent the effects\\nwhich might result from this inclination, mj\\nfather was impatient to see me engaged with\\nmy brother. I held back for some time at\\nlength, however, I suffered myself to be per-\\nsuaded, and signed my indentures, being then\\nonly twelve years of age. It was agreed that\\nshould serve as an apprentice to the age of\\ntwenty-one, and should receive journeyman s\\nwages only during the last year.\\nIn a very short time I made great profi-\\nciency in this business, and became very ser-\\nviceable to my brother. I had now an op-\\nportunity of procuring better books. The ac-\\ntjuaintance I necessarily formed with book-\\nsellers apprentices, enabled me to borrow a\\nvolume now and then, which I never failed to\\nreturn punctually and without injury. How\\noften has it happened to me to pass the\\ngreater part of the night in reading by my\\nbedside, when the book had been lent me in\\nthe evening and was to be returned the next\\nmorning, lest it might be missed or wanted.\\nAt length Mr. Mathew Adams, an ingeni-\\nous tradesman, who had a handsome collec-\\ntion of books, and who frequented our print", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0029.jp2"}, "30": {"fulltext": "26 XAFE OP DR. FHANKLIN.\\ning-house, took notice of me. He invited me\\nto see his library, and had the goodness to\\nlend me any books I was desirous of reading.\\nI then took a strange fancy for poetry, and\\ncomposed several little pieces. My brother,\\nthinking he might find his account in it, en-\\ncouraged me, and engaged me to write two\\nballads. One, called the Light-house Tra-\\ngedy, contained an account of the shipwreck\\nof Captain Worthilake and his two daughters\\nthe other was a sailor s song on the capture\\nof the noted pirate called Teaeh, or Black-\\nbeard. They were wretched verses in point\\nof style, mere blindmen s ditties. When\\nprinted, he despatched me about the town to\\nsell them. The first had a prodigious run,\\nbecause the event was recent, and had made\\na great noise.\\nMy vanity was flattered by this success\\nbut my father checked my exultation, by rid-\\niculing my productions, and telling me tbat\\nversifiers were always poor. I thus escaped\\nthe misfortune of being a very wretched poet.\\nBut as the faculty of writing prose has been\\nof great service to me in the course of my\\nlife, and principally contributed to my ad-", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0030.jp2"}, "31": {"fulltext": "LITE OF DR. rBANKLIN. 27\\nvancement, I shall relate by what means, sit-\\nuated as I was, I acquired the small skill I\\nmay possess in that way.\\nThere was in the town another young\\nman, a great lover of books, of the name of\\nJohn Collins, with whom I was intimately\\nconnected. We frequently engaged in dis-\\npute, and were indeed so fond of argumenta-\\ntion, that nothing was so agreeable to us as\\na war of words. This contentious temper, I\\nwould observe by the by, is in danger of be-\\ncoming a very bad habit, and frequently ren-\\nders a man s company insupportable, as being\\nno otherwise capable of indulgence than by\\nan indiscriminate contradiction independ-\\nently of the acrimony and discord it intro-\\nduces into conversation, and is often produc-\\ntive of dislike, and even hatred, between\\npersons to whom friendship is indispensably\\nnecessary. I acquired it by reading, while I\\nlived with my father, books of religious con-\\ntroversy. I have since remarked, that men\\nof sense seldom fall into this error lawyers,\\nfellows of universities, and persons of every\\nprofession educated at Edinburgh, excepted.\\nCollins and I fell one day into an argu-", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0031.jp2"}, "32": {"fulltext": "28 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN,\\nment relative to the education of women\\nnamely, whether it was proper to instruct\\nthem in the sciences, and whether they were\\ncompetent to the study. Collins supported\\nthe negative, and affirmed that the task was\\nbeyond their capacity. I maintained the op-\\nposite opinion, a little perhaps for the pleas-\\nure of disputing. He was naturally more\\neloquent than I words flowed copiously from\\nhis lips; and frequently I thought myself\\nvanquished, more by his volubility than by\\nthe force of his arguments. We separated\\nwithout coming to an agreement upon this\\npoint, and as we were not to see each other\\nagain for sometime, I committed my thoughts\\nto paper, made a fair copy, and sent it to\\nhim. He answered, and I replied. Three\\nor four letters had been written by each,\\nwhen my father chanced to light upon my\\npapers and read them. Without entering\\ninto the merits of the cause, he embraced the\\nopportunity of speaking to me upon my man-\\nner of writing. He observed, that though I\\nhad the advantage of my adversary in correct\\nspelling and pointing, which I owed to my\\noccupation, I was greatly his inferior in ele-", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0032.jp2"}, "33": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 29\\ngance of expression, in arrangement, and per-\\nspicuity. Of this he convinced me by several\\nexamples. I felt the justice of his remarks,\\nbecame more attentive to language, and re-\\nsolved to make every eflfort to improve my\\nstyle.\\nAmidst these resolves an odd volume of\\nthe Spectator fell into my hands. This was\\na publication I had never seen. I bought\\nthe volume, and read it again and again. I\\nwas enchanted with it, thought the style ex-\\ncellent, and wished it were in my power to\\nimitate it. With this view I selected some\\nof the papers, made short summaries of the\\nsense of each period, and put them for a few\\ndays aside. I then, without looking at the\\nbook, endeavored to restore the essays to\\ntheir due form, and to express each thought\\nat length, as it was in the original, employ-\\ning the most appropriate words that occurred\\nto my mind. I afterwards compared my\\nSpectator with the original I perceived some\\nfaults, which I corrected but I found that I\\nwanted a fund of words, if I may so express\\nmyself, and a facility of recollecting and em-\\nploying them, which I thought I should by", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0033.jp2"}, "34": {"fulltext": "80 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN,\\nthat time have acquired, had I continued to\\nmake verses. The continual need of words\\nof the same meaning, but of different lengths\\nfor the measure, or of different sounds for the\\nrhyme, would have obliged me to seek for a\\nvariety of synonymes, and have rendered me\\nmaster of them. From this belief, I took\\nsome of the tales of the Spectator and turned\\nthem into verse and, after a time, when I\\nhad suflSciently forgotten them, I again con-\\nverted them into prose.\\nSometimes also I mingled all my summa-\\nries together; and, a few weeks after, en-\\ndeavored to arrange them in the best order,\\nbefore I attempted to form the periods and\\ncomplete the essays. This I did with a view\\nof acquiring method in the arrangement of\\nmy thoughts. On comparing afterwards my\\nperformance with the original, many faults\\nwere apparent, which I corrected but I had\\nsometimes the satisfaction to think, that, in\\ncertain particulars of little importance, I had\\nbeen fortunate enough to improve the order\\nof thought or the style and this encouraged\\nme to hope that I should succeed, in time, in\\nwriting decently in the English language.", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0034.jp2"}, "35": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 81\\nwhich was one of the great objects of my am-\\nbition,\\nThe time which I devoted to these exer-\\ncises, and to reading, was the evening after\\nmy day s labor was finished, the morning be-\\nfore it began, and Sundays when I could es-\\ncape attending Divine service. While I lived\\nwith my father, he had insisted on my punc-\\ntual attendance on public worship, and I still\\nindeed considered it as a duty, but a duty\\nwhich I thought I had no time to practice.\\nWhen about sixteen years of age, a work\\nof Tryon fell into my hands, in which he rec-\\nommends vegetable diet, I determined to\\nobserve it. My brother, being a bachelor,\\ndid not keep house, but boarded with his\\napprentices in a neighboring family. My\\nrefusing to eat animal food was found incon-\\nvenient, and I was often scolded for my sin-\\ngularity, I attended to the mode in which\\nTryon prepared some of hfa dishes, particu-\\nlarly how to boil potatoes and rice, and make\\nhasty puddings. I then said to my brother,\\nthat if he would allow me per week half what\\nhe paid for my board, I would undertake lo\\nDcaintain myself. The offer was instantly", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0035.jp2"}, "36": {"fulltext": "32 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nenrbraced, and I soon found that of what he\\ngave me I was able to save half. This was\\na new fund for the purchase of books and\\nother advantages resulted to me from the plan.\\nWhen my brother and his workmen left the\\nprinting-house to go to dinner, I remained\\nbehind; and despatching my frugal meal,\\nwhich frequently consisted of a biscuit only,\\nor a slice of bread and a bunch of raisins, or\\na bun from the pastry cook s, with a glass of\\nwater, I had the rest of the time, till their\\nreturn, for study and my progress therein\\nwas proportioned to that clearness of ideas,\\nand quickness of conception, which are the\\nfruit of temperance in eating and drinking.\\nIt was about this period that, having one\\nday been put to blush for my ignorance in\\nthe art of calculation, which I had twice\\nfailed to learn while at school, I took Cock-\\ner s Treatise of Arithmetic, and went through\\nit myself with the utmost ease. I also read\\na book of Navigation by Seller and Sturmy,\\nand made myself master of the little geome-\\ntry it contains, but I never proceeded far in\\nthis science. Nearly at the same time I\\nread Locke on the Human Understanding,", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0036.jp2"}, "37": {"fulltext": "LlPE OF DK. FHANKLIN. 83\\nand the Art of Ttiinking, by Messrs. du F^rt\\nRoyal.\\nWhile laboring to form and improve my\\nstyle, I met with an English Grammar, which\\nI believe was Greenwood s, having at the\\nend of it two little essays on rhetoric and\\nlogic. In the latter I found a model of\\ndisputation after the manner of Socrates.\\nShortly after I procured Xenophon s work^\\nentitled, Memorable Things of Socrates, in\\nwhich are various examples of the same\\nmethod. Charmed to a degree of enthu-\\nsiasm with this mode of disputing, I adopted\\nit, and renouncing blunt contradiction, and\\ndirect and positive argument, I assumed the\\ncharacter of a humble questioner. The pe-\\nrusal of Shaftsbury and Collins had made\\nme a skeptic and, being previously so as to\\nmany doctrines of Christianity, I found Soc-\\nrates method to be both the safest for my-\\nself, as well as the most embarrassing to\\nthose against whom I employed it. It soon\\nafforded me singular pleasure I incessantly\\npracticed it and became very adroit in ob-\\ntaining, even from persons of superior un-\\nderstanding, concessions of which they did\\n3 Franklin", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0037.jp2"}, "38": {"fulltext": "84 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nnot foresee the consequence. Thus I in-\\nvolved them in difficulties from which they\\nwere unable to extricate themselves, and\\nsometimes obtained victories, which neither\\nmy cause nor my arguments merited.\\nThis method I continued to employ for\\nsome years but I afterwards abandoned it\\nby degrees, retaining only the habit of ex-\\npressing myself with modest diffidence, and\\nnever making use, when I advanced any\\nproposition which might be controverted, of\\nthe words certainly^ undoubtedly^ or any\\nothers that might give the appearance of\\nbeing obstinately attached to my opinion. I\\nrather said, I imagine, I suppose, or it ap-\\npears to me, that such a thing is so or so,\\nfor such and such reasons or it is so, if 1\\nam not mistaken. This habit has, I think,\\nbeen of considerable advantage to me, when\\nI have had occasion to impress my opinion\\non the minds of others, and persuade them\\nto the adoption of the measures I have sug-\\ngested. And since the chief ends of con-\\nversation are, to inform or to be informed, to\\nplease or to persuade, I could wish that in-\\ntelligent and well meaning men would not", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0038.jp2"}, "39": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 35\\nthemselves diminish the power they possess\\nof being useful, by a positive and presump-\\ntuous manner of expressing themselves, which\\nscarcely ever fails to disgust the hearer, and\\nis only calculated to excite opposition, and\\ndefeat every purpose for which the faculty\\nof speech has been bestowed on man. In\\nshort, if you wish to inform, a positive and\\ndogmatical manner of advancing your opinion\\nmay provoke contradiction, and prevent your\\nbeing heard with attention. On the other\\nhand, if, with a desire of being informed, and\\nof benefiting by the knowledge of others,\\nyou express yourself as being strongly at-\\ntached to your own opinions, modest and\\nsensible men, who do not love disputation,\\nwill leave you in tranquil possession of your\\nerrors. By following such a method, you\\ncan rarely hope to please your auditors, con-\\nciliate their good will, or work conviction on\\nthose whom you may be desirous of gaining\\nover to your views. Pope judiciously ob-\\nserves,\\nMen must be tan^t as if you taught them not,\\nijxd things unknown proposed as things forgot.", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0039.jp2"}, "40": {"fulltext": "36 LIEE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nAnd in the same poem he afterwards advises\\nus,\\nTo speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence\\nHe might have added to these lines, one that\\nhe has coupled elsewhere, in my opinion, with\\nless propriety. It is this\\nFor want of modesty is want of sense.\\nIf you ask why I say with less propriety, I\\nmust give you the two lines together\\nImmodest words admit of no dtfense,\\nFor want of deoencj is want of sense.\\nNow want of sense, when a man has the mis-\\nfortune to be so circumstanced, is it not a\\nkind of excuse for want of modesty And\\nwould not the verses have been more accu-\\nrate, if they had been constructed thus\\nImmodest words admit but thia defense,\\nThe want of decency is want of sense.\\nBut I leave the decision of this to better\\njudges than myself.\\nIn 1720, or 1721, my brother began to\\nprint a new public paper. It was the second\\nthat made its appearance in America, and\\nwas entitled the New England Courant/", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0040.jp2"}, "41": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 87\\nThe only one that existed before was the\\nBoston News Letter. Some of his friends,\\nI remember, would have dissuaded him from\\nthis undertaking, as a thing that was not\\nlikely to succeed a single newspaper being,\\nin their opinion, sufficient for all America.\\nAt present, however, in 1771, there are no\\nless than twenty-five. But he carried his\\nproject into execution, and I was employed\\nin distributing the copies to his customers,\\nafter having assisted in composing and work-\\ning them off.\\nAmong his friends he had a number of lit-\\nerary characters, who, as an amusement,\\nwrote short essays for the paper, which gave\\nit reputation and increased the sale. These\\ngentlemen frequently came to our house. I\\nheard the conversation that passed, and the\\naccounts they gave of the favorable reception\\nof their writings with the public. I was\\ntempted to try my hand among them but,\\nbeing still a child as it were, I was fearful\\nthat my brother might be unwilling to print\\nin his paper any performance of which he\\nshould know me to be the author. I there-\\nfore contrived to disguise my hand, and hay-", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0041.jp2"}, "42": {"fulltext": "88 LITE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\ning written an anonymous piece, I placed it\\nat night under the door of the printing-house,\\nwhere it was found the next morning. My\\nbrother communicated it to his friends, when\\nthey came as usual to see him, who read it,\\ncommented upon it within my hearing, and I\\nhad the exquisite pleasure to find that it met\\nwith their approbation, and that in their va-\\nrious conjectures they made respecting the\\nauthor, no one was mentioned who did not\\nenjoy a high reputation in the country for\\ntalents and genius. I now supposed myself\\nfortunate in my judges, and began to suspect\\nthat they were not such excellent writers as\\nI had hitherto supposed them. Be this as it\\nmay, encouraged by this little adventure, I\\nwrote and sent to press, in the same way,\\nmany other pieces, which were equally ap-\\nproved keeping the secret till my slender\\nstock of information and knowledge for such\\nperformances was pretty completely ex-\\nhausted, when I made myself known.\\nMy brother upon this discovery, began to\\nentertain a little more respect for me but\\nhe still regarded himself as my master, and\\ntreated me as an apprentice. He thought", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0042.jp2"}, "43": {"fulltext": "LIFE 07 DR. FBANKLIN. 39\\nhimself entitled to the same services from me\\nas from any other person. On the contrary,\\nI conceived that, in many instances, he was\\ntoo rigorous, and that, on the part of a\\nbrother, I had a right to expect greater in-\\ndulgence. Our disputes were frequently\\nbrought before my father; and either my\\nbrother was generally in the wrong, or I was\\nthe better pleader of the two, for judgment\\nwas commonly given in my favor. But my\\nbrother was passionate, and often had re-\\ncourse to blows a circumstance which I took\\nin very ill part. This severe and tyrannical\\ntreatment contributed, I believe, to imprint\\non my mind that aversion to arbitrary power,\\nwhich, during my whole life, I have ever pre-\\nserved. My apprenticeship became insup-\\nportable to me, and I continually sighed for\\nan opportunity of shortening it, which at\\nlength unexpectedly offered.\\nAn article inserted in our paper, upon some\\npolitical subject which I have now forgotten,\\ngave offence to the Assembly. My brother\\nwas taken into custody, censured, and or-\\ndered into confinement for a month, because,\\nas I presume, he would not discover the au-", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0043.jp2"}, "44": {"fulltext": "40 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN*\\ntnor. I was also taken up, and examined\\nbefore the council but, though I gave them\\nno satisfaction, they contented themselves\\nwith reprimanding, and then dismissed me\\nconsidering me probably as bound, in quality\\nof apprentice, to keep my master s secrets.\\nThe imprisonment of my brother kindled\\nmy resentment, notwithstanding our private\\nquarrels. During its continuance, the man-\\nagement of the paper was entrusted to me,\\nand I was bold enough to insert some pas-\\nquinades against the governors which highly\\npleased my brother, while others began to\\nlook upon me in an unfavorable point of\\nview, considering me as a young wit, inclined\\nto satire and lampoon.\\nMy brother s enlargement was accompa-\\nnied with an arbitrary order from the House\\nof the Assembly, That James Franklin\\nshould no longer print the newspaper enti-\\ntled the New England Courant.* In this\\nconjuncture, we held a consultation of our\\nfriends at the printing-house, in order to de-\\ntermine what was to be done. Some pro-\\nposed to evade the order, by changing the\\ntitle of the paper but my brother foreseeing", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0044.jp2"}, "45": {"fulltext": "LITE or DB. FBANKLIN. 41\\ninconveniences that would result from this\\nstep, thought it better that it should in future\\nbe printed in the name of Benjamin Franklin\\nand to avoid the censure of the Assembly,\\nwho might charge him with still printing the\\npaper himself, under the name of his appren-\\ntice, it was resolved that my old indentures\\nshould be given up to me, with a full and en-\\ntire discharge written on the back, in order\\nto be produced upon an emergency but that,\\nto secure to my brother the benefit of my\\nservice, I should sign a new contract, which\\nshould be kept secret during the remainder\\nof the term. This was a very shallow ar-\\nrangement. It was, however, carried into im-\\nmediate execution, and the paper continued,\\nin consequence, to make its appearance for\\nsome months in my name. At length a\\nnew difierence arising between my brother\\nand me, I ventured to take advantage of my\\nliberty, presuming that he would not dare to\\nproduce the new contract. It was undoubt-\\nedly dishonorable to avail myself of this cir-\\ncumstance, and I reckon this action as one\\nof the first errors of my life but I was little\\ncapable of estimating it at its true value, em-\\n4 Franklin", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0045.jp2"}, "46": {"fulltext": "42 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nbittered as my mind had been by the recoU\\nlection of the blows I had received. Exclu-\\nsively of his passionate treatment of me, my\\nbrother was by no means a man of an ill\\ntemper, and perhaps my manners had too\\nmuch impertinence not to afford it a very\\nnatural pretext.\\nWhen he knew that it was my determina-\\ntion to quit him, he wished to prevent my\\nfinding employment elsewhere. He went to\\nall the printing-houses in the town, and pre-\\njudiced the masters against me who accord-\\ningly refused to employ me. The idea then\\nsuggested itself to me of going to New York,\\nthe nearest town in which there was a print-\\ning-office. Farther reflection confirmed me\\nin the design of leaving Boston, where I had\\nalready rendered myself an object of suspi-\\ncion to the governing party. It was proba-\\nble, from the arbitrary proceedings of the\\nAssembly in the affair of my brother, that,\\nby remaining, I should soon have been ex-\\nposed to difficulties, which I had the greater\\nreason to apprehend, as, from my indiscreet\\ndisputes upon the subject of religion, I began\\nto be regarded by pious souls with horror.", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0046.jp2"}, "47": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DE. FRANKLIN. 43\\neither as an apostate or an atheist. I came\\ntherefore to a resolution but my father, sid-\\ning with my brother, I presumed that if I\\nattempted to depart openly, measures would\\nbe taken to prevent me. My friend Collins\\nundertook to favor my flight. He agreed for\\nmy passage with the captain of a New York\\nsloop, to whom he represented me as a young\\nman of his acquaintance, who bad an affair\\nwith a girl of bad character, whose parents\\nwished to compel me to marry her, and of\\nconsequence I could neither make my ap-\\npearance, nor go off publicly. I sold part of\\nmy books to procure a small sum of money,\\nand went privately on board the sloop. By\\nfavor of a good wind, I found myself in three\\ndays at New York, nearly three hundred\\nmiles from my home, at the age only of sev-\\nenteen years, without knowing an individual\\nin the place, and with very little money in\\nmy pocket.\\nThe inclination I had felt for a sea-faring\\nlife was entirely subsided, or I should now\\nhave been able to gratify it but having an-\\nother trade, and believing myself to be a tol-\\nerable workman, I hesitated not to offer mj", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0047.jp2"}, "48": {"fulltext": "44 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nservices to old Mr. William Bradford, who\\nhad been the first printer in Pennsylvania,\\nbut had quitted the province on account of a\\nquarrel with George Keith, the governor.\\nHe could not give me employment himself,\\nhaving little to do, and already as many per-\\nsons as he wanted but he told me that his\\nson, printer at Philadelphia, had lately lost\\nhis principal workman, Aquilla Rose, who\\nwas dead, and that if I would go thither, he\\nbelieved that he would engage me. Phila-\\ndelphia was a hundred miles farther. I hesi-\\ntated not to embark in a boat in order to\\nrepair, by the shortest cut of the sea, to Am-\\nboy, leaving my trunk and efiects to come\\nafter me by the usual and more tedious con-\\nveyance. In crossing the bay we met with\\na squall, which shattered to pieces our rotten\\nsails, prevented us from entering the Kill,\\nand threw us upon Long Island.\\nDuring the squall, a drunken Dutchman,\\nwho, like myself, was a passenger in the boat,\\nfell into the sea. At the moment that he\\nwas sinking, I siezed him by the foretop,\\nsaved him, and drew him on board. This\\nimmersion sobered him a little, so that he feU", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0048.jp2"}, "49": {"fulltext": "UrE OF DR FRANKLIN 45\\nasleep, after having taken from his pocket a\\nvolume which he requested me to dry. This\\nvolume I found to be my old favorite work,\\nBunyan s Pilgrim, in Dutch, a beautiful im-\\npression on fine paper, with copper-plate en-\\ngravings a dress in which I had never seen\\nit in its original language. I have since\\nlearned that it has been translated into al-\\nmost all the languages of Europe, and next\\nto the Bible, I am persuaded it is one of the\\nbooks that has had the greatest spread.\\nHonest John is the first, that I know of, who\\nhas mixed narrative and dialogue together\\na mode of writing very engaging to the\\nreader, who in the most interesting passages,\\nfinds himself admitted as it were into the\\ncompany, and present at the conversation.\\nDe Foe has imitated it with success in his\\nRobinson Crusoe, his Moll Flanders, and\\nother works as also Richardson in his Pa-\\nmela, c.\\nIn approaching the island, we found that\\nwe had made a part of the coast where it was\\nnot possible to land, on account of the strong\\nbreakers produced by the rocky shore. We\\ncast anchor and veered the cable towards", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0049.jp2"}, "50": {"fulltext": "46 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nthe shore. Some men, who stood upon the\\nbrink, halloed to us, while we did the same\\non our part but the wind was so high, and\\nthe waves so noisy, that we could neither of\\nus hear each other. There were some canoes\\nupon the bank, and we called out to them,\\nand made signs to prevail on them to come\\nand take us up but either they did not un-\\nderstand us, or they deemed our request im-\\npracticable, and withdrew. Night came on,\\nand nothing remained for us but to wait qui-\\netly the subsiding of the wind till when, we\\ndetermined, that is, the pilot and I, to sleep\\nif possible. For that purpose we went below\\nthe hatches along with the Dutchman, who\\nwas drenched with water. The sea broke\\nover the boat, and reached us in our retreat,\\nso that we were presently as completely\\ndrenched as he.\\nWe had very little repose during the whole\\nnight but the wind abating the next day,\\nwe succeeded in reaching Amboy before it\\nwas dark, after having passed thirty hours\\nwithout provisions, and with no other drink\\nthan a bottle of bad rum, the water upon\\nwhich we rowed being salt. In the evening", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0050.jp2"}, "51": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANELLIN. 47\\nI wont to bed with a very violent fever. I\\nhad somewhere read that cold water, drunk\\nplentifully, was a remedy in such cases. I\\nfollowed the prescription, was in a profuse\\nsweat for the greater part of the night, and\\nthe fever left me. The next day I crossed\\nthe river in a ferry-boat, and continued my\\njourney on foot. I had fifty miles to walk,\\nin order to reach Burlington, where I was\\ntold I should find passage-boats that would\\nconvey me to Philadelphia. It rained hard\\nthe whole day, so that I was wet to the skin.\\nFinding myself fatigued about noon, I stop-\\nped at a paltry inn, where I passed the rest\\nof the day and the whole night, beginning to\\nregret that I had quitted my home. I made\\nbesides so wretched a figure, that I was sus-\\npected to be some runaway servant, j-liis I\\ndiscovered by the questions that were asked\\nme and I felt that I was every moment in\\ndanger of being taken up as such. The next\\nclay, however, I continued my journey, and\\narrived in the evening at an inn, eight or ten\\nmiles from Burlington, that was kept by one\\nDr. Brown.\\nThis man entered into conversation with", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0051.jp2"}, "52": {"fulltext": "48 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nme while I took some refreshment, and per-\\nceiving that I had read a little, he expressed\\ntowards me considerable interest and friend-\\nship. Our acquaintance continued during\\nthe remainder of his life. I believe him to\\nhave been what is called an itinerant doctor\\nfor there was no town in England, or indeed\\nin Europe, of which he could not give a par-\\nticular account. He was neither deficient in\\nunderstanding or literature, but he was a sad\\ninfidel and, some years after, wickedly un-\\ndertook to travesty the ^Bible, in burlesque\\nverse, as Cotton has travestied Virgil. He\\nexhibited, by this means, many facts in a\\nvery ludicrous point of view, which would\\nhave given umbrage to weak minds, had his\\nwork been published, which it never was.\\nI spent the night at his house, and reached\\nBurlington the next morning. On my ar-\\nrival, I had the mortification to learn that\\nthe ordinary passage-boats had sailed a little\\nbefore. This was on a Saturday, and there\\nwould be no other boat till the Tuesday fol-\\nlowing. I returned to the house of an old\\nwoman in the town who had sold me somo\\ngingerbread to eat on my passage, and I", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0052.jp2"}, "53": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 49\\nasked her advice. She invited me to take\\nup my abode with her till an opportunity\\noflfered for me to embark. Fatigued with\\nhaving traveled so far on foot, I accepted\\nher invitation. When she understood that I\\nwas a printer, she would have persuaded me\\nto stay at Burlington, and set up my trade\\nbut she was little aware of the capital that\\nwould be necessary for such a purpose I\\nwas treated while at her house with true\\nhospitality. She gave me, with the utmost\\ngood will, a dinner of beefsteaks, and would\\naccept of nothing in return but a pint of ale.\\nHere I imagined myself to be fixed till the\\nTuesday in the ensuing week but, walking\\nout in the evening by the river side, 1 saw a\\nboat with a number of persons in it approach.\\nIt was going to Philadelphia, and the cooa-\\npany took me in. As there was no wind, we\\ncould only make way with our oars. About\\nmidnight, not perceiving the town, some of\\nthe company were of opinion that we must\\nhave passed it, and were unwilling to row\\nany farther the rest not knowing where we\\nwere, it was resolved that we should stop.\\nWe drew towards the shore, entered a creek.", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0053.jp2"}, "54": {"fulltext": "OO LITE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nand landed near some old palisades, which\\nserved us for firewood, it being a cold night\\nin October. Here we staid till day, when\\none of the company found the place in which\\nwe were to be Cooper s Creek, a little above\\nPhiladelphia which, in reality, we perceived\\nthe moment we were out of the creek. We\\narrived on Sunday about eight or nine o clock\\nin the morning, and landed on Market Street\\nwharf.\\nI have entered into the particulars of my\\nvoyage, and shall, in like manner, describe\\nray first entrance into this city, that you may\\nbe able to compare beginnings so little aus-\\npicious, with the figure I have since made.\\nOn my arrival at Philadelphia I was in my\\nworking dress, my best clothes being to come\\nby sea. I was covered with dirt my pock-\\nets were filled with shirts and stockings I\\nwas unacquainted with a single soul in the\\nplace, and knew not where to seek for a\\nlodging. Fatigued with walking, rowing,\\nand having passed the night without sleep, I\\nwas extremely hungry, and all my money\\nconsisted of a Dutch dollar, and about a\\nshilling s worth of coppci s, which I gave to", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0054.jp2"}, "55": {"fulltext": "LIFE or DR. FRANKLIN. 51\\nthe boatmen for my passage. As I liad as-\\nsisted them in rowing, they refused it at\\nfirst; but I insisted on their taking it. A\\nman is sometimes more generous when he\\nhas little than when he has much money;\\nprobably because, in the first case, he is de-\\nsirous of concealing his poverty.\\nI walked towards the top of the street,\\nlooking eagerly on both sides, till I came to\\nMarket Street, where I met with a child with\\na loaf of bread. Often had I made my din-\\nner on dry bread. I inquired where he had\\nbought it, and went straight to the baker s\\nshop which he pointed out to me. I asked\\nfor some biscuits, expecting to find such as\\nwe had at Boston but they made, it seems,\\nnone of that sort at Philadelphia. I then\\nasked for a threepenny loaf. They made no\\nloaves of that price. Finding myself ignor-\\nant of the prices, as well as of the diflferent\\nkinds of bread, I desired him to let me have\\nthreepenny- worth of bread of some kind or\\nother. He gave me three large rolls. I was\\nsurprised at receiving so much: I took them,\\nhowever, and having no room in my pockets,\\nI walked on with a roll uiulcv each arm, eat-", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0055.jp2"}, "56": {"fulltext": "52 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\ning the third. In this manner I went through\\nMarket Street to Fourth Street, and passed\\nthe house of Mr. Read, the father of my fu-\\nture wife. She was standing at the door^\\nobserved me, and thought with reason, that\\nI made a very singular and grotesque ap-\\npearance.\\nI then turned the corner, and went through\\nChestnut Street, eating my roll all the way i\\nand having made this round, I found myself\\nagain on Market Street wharf, near the boat\\nin which I arrived. I stepped into it to take\\na draught of the river water; and finding\\nmyself satisfied with my first roll, I gave the\\nother two to a woman and her child, who had\\ncome down the river with us in the boat, and\\nwas waiting to continue her journey. Thus\\nrefreshed, I regained the street, which was\\nnow full of well dressed people, all going the\\nsame way. I joined them, and was thus led\\nto a large Quaker s meeting-house near the\\nmarket-place. I sat down with the rest, and,\\nafter looking round me for some time, hear-\\ning nothing said, and being drowsy from my\\nlast night s labor and want of rest, I fell into^\\na sound sleep. In this state I continued till", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0056.jp2"}, "57": {"fulltext": "LIFE or DR. FRANKLIN. 53\\nthe assembly dispersed, when one of the\\ncongregation had the goodness to wake\\nme. This was consequently the first house\\nI entered, or in which I slept, at Phila-\\ndelphia.\\nI began again to walk along the street, by\\nthe river side and, looking attentively in the\\nface of every one I met with, I at length\\nperceived a young Quaker whose countenance\\npleased me. I accosted him, and begged\\nhim to inform me where a stranger might\\nfind a lodging. We were then near the sign\\nof the Three Mariners. They receive trav-\\nelers here, said he, but it is not a house that\\nbears a good character if you will go with\\nme, I will show you a better one. He con-\\nducted me to the Crooked Billet, in Water\\nStreet. There I ordered something for din-\\nner, and, during my meal, a number of curi-\\nous questions were put to me, my youth and\\nappearance exciting the suspicion of my be-\\ning a runaway. After dinner my drowsiness\\nreturned, and I threw myself upon a bed\\nwithout taking oflF my clothes, and slept till\\nsix o clock in the evening, when I was called\\nio supper. I afterwards went to bed at a", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0057.jp2"}, "58": {"fulltext": "64 LliE OF DR. fRA.NKLlN.\\nvery early hour, and did not awake till the\\nnext morning.\\nAs soon as I got up I put myself in as de-\\ncent a trim as I could, and went to the house\\nof Andrew Bradford, the printer. I found\\nhis father in the shop, whom I had seen at\\nNew York. Having traveled on horseback,\\nhe had arrived at Philadelphia before me.\\nHe introduced me to his son, who received\\nme with civility, and gave me some break-\\nfast; but told me he had no occasion at\\npresent for a journeyman, having lately pro-\\ncured one. He added, that there was an-\\nother printer newly settled in the town, of\\nthe name of Keimer, who might perhaps em-\\nploy me; and that in case of refusal, I\\nshould be welcome to lodge at his house, and\\nhe would give me a little work now and then^\\ntill something better should offer.\\nThe old man offered to introduce me to the\\nnew printer. When we were at his house^\\nNeighbor,* said he, I bring you a young\\nman in the printing business; perhaps you\\nmay have need of his services.\\nKeimer asked me some questions, put a\\ncomposing-stick in my hand to see how 1", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0058.jp2"}, "59": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 55\\ncould work, and then said, that at present\\nhe had nothing for me to do, but that he\\nshould soon be able to employ me. At the\\nsame time, taking old Bradford for an inhab-\\nitant of the town well disposed towards him,\\nhe communicated his project to him, and the\\nprospect he had of success. Bradford was\\ncareful not to discover that he was the father\\nof the other printer and from what Keimer\\nhad said, that he hoped shortly to be in pos-\\nsession of the greater part of the business\\nof the town, led him, by artful questions,\\nand by starting some difficulties, to disclose\\nall his views, what his hopes were founded\\nupon, and how he intended to proceed. I\\nwas present, and heard it all. I instantly\\nsaw that one of the two was a cunning old\\nfox, and the other a perfect novice. Brad-\\nford left me with Keimer, who was strangely\\nsurprised when I informed him who the old\\nman was,\\nI found Keimer s printing materials to\\nconsist of an old damaged press, and a small\\nfont of worn out English letters, with which\\nhe himself was at work upon an elegy on\\nAquila Rose, whom I have mentioned above.", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0059.jp2"}, "60": {"fulltext": "66 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nan ingenious young man, and of an excellent\\ncharacter, highly esteemed in the town, sec-\\nretary to the Assembly, and a very tolerable\\npoet. Keimer also made verses, but they\\nwere indiflferent ones. He could not be said\\nto write in verse, for his method was to set\\nthe lines as they flowed from his muse and\\nas he worked without copy, had but one set\\nof letter-cases, and the elegy would probably\\noccupy all his types, it was impossible for\\nany one to assist him. I endeavored to put\\nhis press in order, which he had not yet used,\\nand of which indeed he understood nothing\\nand, having promised to come and work off\\nhis elegy as soon as it should be ready, I re-\\nturned to the house of Bradford, who gave\\nme some trifle to do for the present, for\\nwhich I had my board and lodging.\\nIn a few days Keimer sent for me to print\\noff his elegy. He had now procured another\\nset of letter-cases, and had a pamphlet to\\nreprint, upon which he set me to work.\\nThe two Philadelphia printers appeared\\ndestitute of every qualification necessary in\\ntheir profession. Bradford had not been\\nbrought up to it, and was very illiterate.", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0060.jp2"}, "61": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. Oi\\nKeimerj though he understood a little of the\\nbusinessy was merely a compositor, and wholly\\nincapable of working at press. He had been\\none of the French prophets, and knew how\\nto imitate their supernatural agitations. At\\nthe time of our first acquaintance he pro-\\nfessed no particular religion, but a little of all\\nupon occasion. He was totally ignorant of\\nthe world, and a great knave at heart, as I\\nhad afterwards an opportunity of experienc-\\ning.\\nKeimer could not endure that, working\\nwith him, I should lodge at Bradford s. He\\nhad indeed a house, but it was unfurnished\\nso that he could not take me in. He pro-\\ncured me a lodging at Mr. Read s, his land-\\nlord, whom I have already mentioned. My\\ntrunk and effects being now arrived, I thought\\nof making, in the eyes of Miss Read, a more\\nrespectable appearance than when chance ex-\\nhibited me to her view, eating my roll, and\\nwandering in the streets.\\nFrom this period I began to contract ac-\\nquaintance with such young people as were\\nfond of reading, and spent my evenings with\\nthem agreeably, while at the same tif I", "height": "3684", "width": "2263", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0061.jp2"}, "62": {"fulltext": "58 lAFE OF DR. FRANKLiy.\\ngained money bj my industry, and, thanks\\nto my frugality, lived contented. I thus for-\\ngot Boston as much as possible, and wished\\nevery one to be ignorant of the place of my\\nresidence, except my friend Collins, to whom\\nI wi-ote, and who kept my secret.\\nAn incident however arrived, which sent\\nme home much sooner than I had proposed.\\nI had a brother-in-law, of the name of Rob-\\nert Holmes, master of a trading aloop from\\nBoston to Delaware. Being at Newcastle,\\nforty miles below Philadelphia, he heard of\\nme, and wrote to inform me of the chagrin\\nwhich my sudden departure from Boston had\\noccasioned my parents, and of the affection\\nwhich they still entertained for me, assuring\\nme that, if I would return, everything should\\nbe adjusted to my satisfaction and he was\\nvery pressing in his entreaties. I answered\\nhis letter, thanked him for his advice, and\\nexplained the reasons which had induced me\\nto quit Boston, with such force and clearness,\\nthat he was convinced I had been less to\\nblame than he had imagined.\\nSir William Keith, governor of the prov-\\nJice, was at Newcastle at the time. Captaua", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0062.jp2"}, "63": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 59\\nHolmes, being by chance in his company\\nwhen he received my letter, took occasion to\\nspeak of me, and showed it him. The gov-\\nernor read it, and appeared surprised when\\nhe learned my age. He thought me, he said,\\na young man of very promising talents, and\\nthat, of consequence, I ought to be encour-\\naged that there were at Philadelphia none\\nbut very ignorant printers, and that if I were\\nto set up for myself, he had no doubt of my\\nsuccess; that, for his own part, he would\\nprocure me all the public business, and would\\nrender me every other service in his power.\\nMy brother-in-law related all this to me af-\\nterwards at Boston but I knew nothing of it\\nat the time; when one day Keimer and I,\\nbeing at work together near the window, we\\nsaw the governor and another gentleman.\\nColonel French, of Newcastle, handsomely\\ndressed, cross the street, and make directly\\nfor our house. We neard them at the door,\\nand Keimer, believing it to be a visit to him-\\nself, went immediately down but the gov-\\nernor inquired for me, came up stairs, and,\\nwith a condescension and politeness to which\\nI had not at all been accustomed, paid me", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0063.jp2"}, "64": {"fulltext": "60 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nmany compliments, desired to be acquainced\\nwith me, obligingly reproached me for not\\nhaving made myself known to him on my ar-\\nrival in the town, and wished me to accom-\\npany him to a tavern, where he and Colonel\\nFrench were going to taste some excellent\\nMadeira wine.\\nI was, I confess, somewhat surprised, and\\nKeimer appeared thunderstruck. I went,\\nhowever, with the governor and the colonel\\nto a tavern, at the corner of Third Street,\\nwhere, while we were drinking the Madeira,\\nhe proposed to me to establish a printing-\\nhouse. He set forth the probabilities of suc-\\ncess, and himself and Colonel French assured\\nme that I should have their protection and\\ninfluence in obtaining the printing of the\\npublic papers of both governments and as I\\nappeared to doubt whether my father would\\nassist me in this enterprise, Sir William said\\nthat he would give me a letter to him, in\\nwhich he would represent the advantages of\\nthe scheme, in a light which he had no doubt\\nwould determine him. It was thus concluded\\nthat I should return to Boston by the first\\nTessel with the letter of recommendation,", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0064.jp2"}, "65": {"fulltext": "LIFE OE DR. FRANKLIN. 61\\nfrom the governor to my father. Meanwhile\\nthe project was to be kept secret, and I con-\\ntinued to work for Keimer as before.\\nThe governor sent every now and then to\\ninvite me to dine with him. I considered\\nthis as a very great honor and I was the\\nmore sensible of it, as he conversed with me\\nin the most affable, familiar, and friendly\\nmanner imaginable.\\nTowards the end of April, 1724, a small\\nvessel was ready to sail for Boston. I took\\nleave of Keimer, upon the pretext of going\\nto see my parents. The governor gave me a\\nlong letter, in which he said many flattering\\nthings of me to my father and strongly rec-\\nommended the project of my settling at Phil-\\nadelphia, as a thing which could not fail to\\nmake my fortune*\\nGoing down th-e bay we struck on a flat,\\nand sprung a leak. The weather was very\\ntempestuous, and we were obliged to pump\\nwithout intermission I took my turn. We\\narrived, however, safe and sound, at Boston,\\nafter about a fortnight s passage.\\nI had been absent seven complete months,\\nand mv relations, during that interval, had", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0065.jp2"}, "66": {"fulltext": "32 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nreceived no intelligence of me for my broth-\\ner-in-law, Holmes, was not yet returned, and\\nhad not written about me. My unexpected\\nappearance surprised the family; but they\\nwere all delighted at seeing me again, and,\\nexcept my brother, welcomed me home. I\\nwent to him at the printing-house. I was\\nbetter dressed than I had ever been while in\\nhis service I had a complete suit of clothes,\\nnew and neat, a watch in my pocket, and my\\npurse was furnished with nearly five pounds\\nsterling in money. He gave me no very civil\\nreception and having eyed me from head to\\nfoot, resumed his work.\\nThe workmen asked me with eagerness\\nwhere I had been, what sort of a country it\\nwas, and how I liked it. I spoke in the high-\\nest terms of Philadelphia, the happy life we\\nled there, and expressed my intention of go-\\ning back again. One of them asking what\\nsort of money we had, I displayed before\\nthem a handful of silver, which I drew from\\nmy pocket. This was a curiosity to which\\nthey were not accustomed, paper being the\\ncurrent money at Boston. I failed not after\\nthis to let them see my watch and, at last,", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0066.jp2"}, "67": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 63\\nmy brother continuing sullen and out of hu-\\nmor, I gave them a shilling to drink, and\\ntook my leave. This visit stung my brother\\nto the soul; for when, shortly after, jij\\nmother spoke to him of a reconciliation, and\\na desire to see us upon good terms, he told\\nher that I had so insulted him before his\\nmen, that he would never forget or forgive\\nit in this, however, he was mistaken.\\nThe governor s letter appeared to excite in\\nmy father some surprise but he said little.\\nAfter some days. Captain Holmes being re-\\nturned, he showed it him, asking him if he\\nknew Keith, and what sort of a man he was\\nadding that, in his opinion, it proved very\\nlittle discernment to think of setting up a\\nboy in business, who, for three years to come,\\nwould not be of an age to be ranked in the\\nclass of men. Holmes said everything he\\ncould in favor of the scheme but my father\\nfirmly maintained its absurdity, and at last\\ngave a positive refusal. He wrote, however,\\na civil letter to Sir William, thanking him\\nfor the protection he had so obligingly oflFered\\nme, but refusing to assist me for the present,\\nbecause he thought me too young to be in-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0067.jp2"}, "68": {"fulltext": "04 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\ntrusted with the conduct of so important an\\nenterprise, and which would require so con-\\nsiderable a sum of money.\\nMy old comrade, Collins, who was a clerk\\nin the post-office, charmed with the account I\\ngave of my new residence, expressed a desire\\nof going thither and, while I waited my\\nfather s determination, he set off before me\\nby land for Rhode Island, leaving his books,\\nwhich formed a handsome collection in math-\\nematics and natural philosophy, to be con-\\nveyed with mine to New York, where he pro-\\nposed to wait for me.\\nMy father, though he could not approve\\nSir William s proposal, was yet pleased that\\nI had obtained so advantageous a recommen-\\ndation as that of a person of his rank, and\\nthat my industry and economy had enabled\\nme to equip myself so handsomely in so short\\na period. Seeing no appearance of accommo-\\ndating matters between my brother and me,\\nhe consented to my return to Philadelphia, ad-\\nvised me to be civil to every body, to endeavor\\nto obtain general esteem, and avoid satire\\nand sarcasm, to which he thought I was too\\nmuch inclined adding, that with persever-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0068.jp2"}, "69": {"fulltext": "The captain allowed me to search the ba^^.\\nPage L6.\\nAutobiug-iaphy of i-ci;jaiiiiii Franklin.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0069.jp2"}, "70": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0070.jp2"}, "71": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 65\\nance and prudent economy, I might, by the\\ntime I became of age, save enough to estab-\\nlish myself in business and that if a small\\nsum should then be wanting, he would under-\\ntake to supply it.\\nThis was all I could obtain from him, ex-\\ncept some trifling presents, in token of\\nfriendship from him and my mother. I em-\\nbarked once more for New York, furnished at\\nthis time with their approbation and blessing.\\nThe sloop having touched at Newport, in\\nRhode Island, I paid a visit to my brother\\nJohn, who had for some years been settled\\nthere, and was married. He had always\\nbeen attached to me, and he received me with\\nwith great affection. One of his friends,\\nwhose name was Vernon, having a debt of\\nabout thirty-six pounds due to him in Penn-\\nsylvania, begged me to receive it from him,\\nand to keep the money till I should hear from\\nhim accordingly he gave me an order for\\nthat purpose. This affair occasioned me, in\\nthe sequil, much uneasiness.\\nAt Newport we took on board a number\\nof passengers among whom were two young\\nwomen, and a grave and sensible Quaker lady\\n5 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0071.jp2"}, "72": {"fulltext": "66 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nT^ith her servants. I had shown an obliging\\nforwardness in rendering the Quaker some\\ntrifling services, which led her, probably, to\\nfeel an interest in my welfare for when she\\nsaw a familiarity take place, and every day\\nincrease, between the two young women and\\nme, she took me aside, and said, Young\\nman, I am in pain for thee. Thou hast no\\nparent to watch over thy conduct, and thou\\nseemest to be ignorant of the world, and the\\nsnares to which youth is exposed. Rely\\nupon what I tell thee those are women of\\nbad characters I perceive it in all their ac-\\ntions. If thou dost not take care, they will\\nlead thee into danger. They are strangers\\nto thee, and I advise thee, by the friendly\\ninterest I take in thy preservation, to form\\nno connection with them.** As I appeared at\\nfirst not to think quite so ill of them as she\\ndid, she related many things she had seen\\nand heard, which had escaped my attention,\\nbut which convinced me that she was in the\\nright. I thanked her for her obliging ad-\\nvice, and promised to follow it.\\nWhen we arrived at New York, they in-\\nformed me where they lodged, and invited", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0072.jp2"}, "73": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FR.4J^KLIN. 67\\nine to come and see them. I did not how-\\never go, and it was well I did not for the\\nnext day, the captain missing a silver spoon\\nand some other things which had been taken\\nfrom the cabin, and knowing these women to\\nbe prostitutes, procured a search-warrant,\\nfound the stolen goods upon them, and had\\nthem punished. And thus, after having been\\nsaved from one rock concealed under water,\\nupon which the vessel struck during our pas-\\nsage, I escaped another of a still more dan-\\ngerous nature.\\nAt New York I found my friend Collins,\\nwho had arrived some time before. We had\\nbeen intimate from our infancy, and had read\\nthe same books together but he had the ad-\\nvantage of being able to devote more time to\\nreading and study, and an astonishing dispo-\\nsition for mathematics, in which he left me\\nfar behind him. When at Boston, I had been\\naccustomed to pass with him almost all my\\nleisure hours. He was then a sober and in-\\ndustrious lad his knowledge had gained him\\na very general esteem, and he seemed to\\npromise to make an advantageous figure in\\nsociety. But, during my absence, he had", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0073.jp2"}, "74": {"fulltext": "68 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nunfortunately addicted himself to brandy,\\nand I learned, as well from himself as from\\nthe report of others, that every day since his\\narrival at New York he had been intoxicated,\\nand had acted in a very extravagant manner.\\nHe had also played and lost all his money\\n80 that I was obliged to pay his expenses at\\nthe inn, and to maintain him during the rest\\nof his journey a burthen that was very in-\\nconvenient to me.\\nThe Governor of New York, whose name\\nwas Bemet, hearing the captain say, that a\\nyoung man who was a passenger in his ship\\nhad a great number of books, begged him to\\nbring me to his house. I accordingly went,\\nand should have taken Collins with me, had\\nhe been sober. The governor treated me\\nwith great civility, showed me his library,\\nwhich was a very considerable one, and we\\ntalked for some time upon books and au-\\nthors. This was the second governor vrho\\nhad honored me with his attention and, to a\\npoor boy, as I was then, these little adven-\\ntures did not fail to be pleasing.\\nWe arrived at Philadelphia. On the way\\nI received Vernon s money, without which", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0074.jp2"}, "75": {"fulltext": "UrE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 69\\nwe should have been unable to have finished\\nour journey.\\nCollins wished to get employment as a\\nmerchant s clerk; but either his breath or\\nhis countenance betrayed his bad habit for,\\nthough he had recommendations, he met with\\nno success, and continued to lodge and eat\\nwith me, and at my expense. Knowing that\\nI had Vernon s money, he was continually\\nasking me to lend him some of it promising\\nto repay me as soon as he should get em-\\nployment. At last he had drawn so much\\nof this money, that I was extremely alarmed\\nat what might become of me, should he fail\\nto make good the deficiency. His habit of\\ndrinking jdid not at all diminish, and was a\\nfrequent source of discord between us; for\\nwhen he had drunk a little too much, he was\\nvery headstrong.\\nBeing one day in a boat together, on the\\nDelaware, with some other young persons, he\\nrefused to take his turn in rowing. You\\nshall row for me, said he, till we get\\nhome. No, I replied, we will not row\\nfor you. You shall, said he, or re-\\nmain upon the water all night. As you", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0075.jp2"}, "76": {"fulltext": "70 LIPE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nplease. Let us row, said the rest of the\\ncompany: what signifies whether he assists\\nor not. But, already angry with him for his\\nconduct in other respects, I persisted in my\\nrefusal. He then swore that he would make\\nme row, or would throw me out of the boat\\nand he made up to me. As soon as he was\\nwithin my reach, I took him by the collar,\\ngave him a violent thrust, and threw him\\nhead foremost into the river. I knew that\\nhe was a good swimmer, and was therefore\\nunder no apprehensions for his life. Before\\nhe could turn himself, we were able, by a\\nfew strokes of our oars, to place ourselves\\nout of his reach and, whenever he touched\\nthe boat, we asked him if he would row,\\nstriking his hands at the same time with the\\noars to make him let go his hold. He was\\nnearly suffocated with rage, but obstinately\\nrefused making any promise to row. Per-\\nceiving, at length, that his strength began to\\nbe exhausted, we took him into the boat, and\\nconveyed him home in the evening com-\\npletely drenched. The utmost coldness sub-\\nsisted between us after this adventure. At\\nlast the captain of a West India ship, who", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0076.jp2"}, "77": {"fulltext": "UPE OF DR. FBANKLIN. 71\\nwas commissioued to procure a tutor for the\\nchildren of a gentleman at Barbadoes, meet-\\ning with Collins, offered him the place. He\\naccepted it, and took his leave of me, prom-\\nising to discharge the debt he owed me with\\nthe first money he should receive but I have\\nheard nothing of him since.\\nThe violation of the trust reposed in me\\nby Vernon was one of the first great errors\\nof my life and it proves that my father was\\nnot mistaken when he supposed me too young\\nto be intrusted with the management of\\nimportant affairs. But Sir William, upon\\nreading his letter, thought him too prudent.\\nThere was a difference, he said, between in-\\ndividuals: years of maturity were not al-\\nways accompanied with discretion, neither\\nwas youth in every instance devoid of it.\\nSince your father, added he, will not\\nset you up in business, I will do it myself.\\nMake out a list of what will be wanted from\\nEngland, and I will send for the articles.\\nYou shall repay me when you can. I am\\ndetermined to have a good printer here, and\\nI am sure you will succeed. This was sai^l\\nwith so much seeming cordiality, that I sus^", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0077.jp2"}, "78": {"fulltext": "72 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\npected not for an instant the sincerity of the\\noffer. I had hitherto kept the project, with\\nwhich Sir Vfilliam had inspired me, of set-\\ntling in business, a secret at Philadelphia,\\nand I still continued to do so. Had my reli-\\nance on the governor been known, some\\nfriend, better acquainted with his character\\nthan myself, would doubtless have advised\\nme not to trust him for I afterwards learned\\nthat he was universally known to be liberal\\nof promises, when he had no intention to\\nperform. But having never solicited him,\\nhow could I suppose his offers to be deceit-\\nful On the contrary, I believed him to be\\nthe best man in the world.\\nI gave him an Inventory of a small print-\\ning-office, the expense of which I had calcu-\\nlated at about a hundred pounds sterling.\\nHe expressed his approbation but asked, if\\nmy presence In England, that I might choose\\nthe characters myself, and see that every ar-\\nticle was good in its kind, would not be an\\nadvantage? You will also be able, said\\nhe, to form some acquaintance there, and\\nestablish a correspondence with stationers\\nand booksellers. This I acknowledged was", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0078.jp2"}, "79": {"fulltext": "LIf\u00c2\u00a3 or 1 R. FK AN KLIN. 73\\ndesirable. That being the case, added\\nhe, hold yourself in readiness to go with\\nthe Annis. This was the annual vessel,\\nand the only one, at that time, which made\\nregular voyages between the ports of Lon-\\ndon and Philadelphia. But the Annis was\\nnot to sail for some months. I therefore\\ncontinued to work with Keimer, unhappy re-\\nspecting the sum which Collins had drawn\\nfrom me, and almost in continual agony at\\nthe thoughts of Vernon, who fortunately\\nmade no demand of his money till several\\nyears after.\\nIn the account of my first voyage from\\nBoston to Philadelphia, I omitted, I believe,\\na trifling circumstance, which will not, per-\\nhaps, be out of place here. During a calm,\\nwhich stopped us above Block Island, the\\ncrew employed themselves in fishing for cod,\\nof which they caught a great number. 1\\nhad hitherto adhered to my resolution of not\\neating any thing that had possessed life;\\nand I considered, on this occasion, agreeably\\nto the maxims of my master Tyron, the cap-\\nture of every fish as a sort of murder, com-\\nmitted without provocation, since these ani-\\n6 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0079.jp2"}, "80": {"fulltext": "74 LIFE OF DR. FRANKJJN.\\nmals had neither done, nor were capable of do-\\ning, the smallest injury to any one that should\\njustify the measure. This mode of reason-\\ning I conceived to be unanswerable. Mean-\\nwhile, I had formerly been extremely fond\\nof fish; and, when one of these cod was\\ntaken out of the fryingpan, I thought its\\nflavor delicious. I hesitated some time be-\\ntween principle and inclination, till at last\\nrecollecting, that when the cod had been\\nopened some small fish were found in its\\nbelly, I said to myself, if you eat one ano-\\nther, I see no reason why we may not eat\\nyou. I accordingly dined on the cod with\\nno small degree of pleasure, and have since\\ncontinued to eat like the rest of mankind,\\nreturning only occasionally to my vegetable\\nplan. How convenient does it prove to be a\\nrational animal^ that knows how to find or\\ninvent a plausible pretext for whatever it hag\\nan inclination to do.\\nI continued to live upon good terms with\\nKeimer, who had not the smallest suspicion\\nof my projected establishment. He still re-\\ntained a portion of his former enthusiasm\\nand, being fond of argument, we frequently", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0080.jp2"}, "81": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 75\\ndisputed together. 1 was so much in the\\nhabit of using my Socratic method, and had\\nso frequently puzzled him by my questions,\\nwhich appeared at first very distant from the\\npoint in debate, yet, nevertheless, led to it\\nby degrees, involving him in difficulties and\\ncontradictions from which he was unable to\\nextricate himself, that he became at last ri-\\ndiculously cautious, and would scarcely an-\\nswer the most plain and familiar question\\nwithout previously asking me What would\\nyou infer from that Hence he formed so\\nhigh an opinion of my talents for refutation,\\nthat he seriously proposed to me to become\\nhis colleague in the establishment of a new\\nreligious sect. He was to propagate the doc-\\ntrine by preaching, and I to refute every op-\\nponent.\\nWhen he explained to me his tenets, I\\nfound many absurdities which I refused to\\nadmit, unless he would agree in turn to adopt\\nsome of my opinions. Keimer wore his beard\\nlong, because Moses had somewhere said,\\nThou shalt not mar the corners of thy\\nbeard. He likewise observed the Sabbath\\nand these were with him two very essential", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0081.jp2"}, "82": {"fulltext": "76 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\npoints. I disliked them both; but I con-\\nsented to adopt them, provided he would\\nagree to abstain from animal food. I\\ndoubt/* said he, whether my constitution\\nwill be able to support it. I assured him on\\nthe contrary, that he would find himself the\\nbetter for it. He was naturally a glutton,\\nand I wished to amuse myself by starving\\nhim. He consented to make trial of this re-\\ngimen, if I would bear him company and,\\nin reality, we continued it for three months.\\nA woman in the neighborhood prepared and\\nbrought us our victuals, to whom I gave a list\\nof forty dishes, in the composition of which\\nthere entered neither flesh nor fish. This\\nfancy was the more agreeable to me, as it\\nturned to good account; for the whole ex-\\npense of our living did not exceed for each\\neighteen-pence a week.\\nI have since that period observed several\\nLents with the greatest strictness, and have\\nsuddenly returned again to my ordinary diet,\\nwithout experiencing the smallest inconveni-\\nence which has led me to regard as of no im-\\nportance the advice commonly given, of intro-\\nducing gradually such alterations of regimen.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0082.jp2"}, "83": {"fulltext": "LITE OF DB. PRANKLIN. 77\\nI continued it cheerfully but poor Keimer\\nBuffered terribly. Tired of the project, he\\nsighed for the flesh pots of Egypt. At length\\nhe ordered a roast pig, and invited me and\\ntwo of our female acquaintance to dine with\\nhim; but the pig being ready a little too\\nsoon, he could not resist the temptation, and\\neat it all up before we arrived.\\nDuring the circumstances I have related, I\\nhad paid some attentions to Miss Read. I\\nentertained for her the utmost esteem and af-\\nfection and I had reason to believe that\\nthese sentiments were mutual. But we were\\nboth young, scarcely more than eighteen\\nyears of age; and, as I was on the point\\nof undertaking a long voyage, her mother\\nthought it prudent to prevent matters being\\ncarried too far for the present, judging that,\\nif marriage was our object, there would be\\nmore propriety in it after my return, when,\\nas at least I expected, I should be established\\nin my business. Perhaps also she thought\\nthat my expectations were not so well founded\\nas I imagined.\\nMy most intimate acquaintance at this\\ntime were Charles Osborne, Joseph Watson,", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0083.jp2"}, "84": {"fulltext": "78 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nand James Ralph young men who were all\\nfond of reading. The two first were clerks\\nto Mr. Charles Brockdon, one of the princi-\\npal attorneys in the town, and the other clerk\\nto a merchant. Watson T^as an upright, pi-\\nous, and sensible young man: the others\\nwere somewhat more loose in their principles\\nof religion, particularly Ralph, whose faith,\\nas well as that of Collins, I had contributed to\\nshake each of whom made me sufier a very\\nadequate punishment. Osborne was sensible,\\nand sincere, and affectionate in his friend-\\nships, but too much inclined to the critic in\\nmatters of literature. R^.lph was ingenuous\\nand shrewd, genteel in his r.rldress, and ex-\\ntremely eloquent. I do not remember to\\nhave met with a more agreeable speaker.\\nThey were both enamored of t]^e muses, and\\nhad already evinced their passion by some\\nsmall poe-ical productions.\\nIt was a custom with us to take a charm-\\ning walk on Sundays, in the woods that\\nborder the Skuylkill. Here we read to-\\ngether, and afterwards conversed on what we\\nread. Ralph was disposed to give himself\\nup entirely to poetry. He flattered himself", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0084.jp2"}, "85": {"fulltext": "J.IFE OE DR. FRANKLIN. 79\\nthat he should arrive at great eminence in\\nthe art, and even acquire a fortune. The\\nsublimest poets, he pretended, when they\\nfirst began to write, committed as many\\nfaults as himself. Osborne endeavored to\\ndissuade him, by assuring him that he had\\nno genius for poetry, and advised him to\\nstick to the trade in which he had been\\nbrought up. In the road of commerce,\\nsaid he, you will be sure, by diligence and\\nassiduity, though you have no capital, of so\\nfar succeeding as to be employed as a factor\\nand may thus, in time, acquire the means of\\nsetting up for yourself. I concurred in\\nthese sentiments, but at the same time ex-\\npressed my approbation of amusing ourselves\\nsometimes with poetry, with a view to im-\\nprove our style. In consequence of this it\\nwas proposed, that, at our next meeting, each\\nof us should bring a copy of verses of his own\\ncomposition. Our object in this competition\\nwas to benefit each other by our mutual re-\\nmarks, criticisms, and corrections; and as\\nstyle and expression were all we had in view,\\nwe excluded every idea of invention, by\\nagreeing that our task should be a version of", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0085.jp2"}, "86": {"fulltext": "80 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nthe eighteenth Psalm, in which is described\\nthe descent of the Deity.\\nThe time of our meeting drew near, when\\nRalph called upon me, and told me that hia\\nperformance was ready. I informed him that\\nI had been idle, and, not much liking the\\ntask, had done nothing. He showed me\\nhis piece, and asked me what I thought of it,\\nI expressed myself in terms of warm appro-\\nbation because it really appeared to have\\nconsiderable merit. He then said, Osborne\\nwill never acknowledge the smallest degree\\nof excellence in any production of mine.\\nEnvy alone dictates to him a thousand ani-\\nmadversions. Of you he is not so jealous I\\nwish, therefore, you would take the verses,\\nand produce them as your own. I will pre-\\ntend not to have had leisure to write any-\\nthing. We shall then see in what manner\\nhe will speak of them. 1 agreed to this\\nlittle artifice, and immediately transcribed the\\nverses to prevent all suspicion.\\nWe met. Watson s performance was the\\nfirst that was read. It had some beauties,\\nbut many faults. We next read Osborne s,\\nwhich was much better. Ralph did it jus-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0086.jp2"}, "87": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 81\\ntice, remarking a few imperfections, and ap-\\nplauding such parts as were excellent. He\\nhad himself nothing to show. I: was now\\nmy turn. I made some difficulty seemed as\\nif I wished to be excused pretended that I\\nhad no time to make corrections, c. No\\nexcuse, however, was admissible, and the\\npiece must be produced. It was read and\\nreread. Watson and Osborne immediately\\nresigned the palm, and united in applauding\\nit. Ralph alone made a few remarks, and\\nproposed some alterations but I defended\\nmy text. Osborne agreed with me, and told\\nRalph that he was no more able to criticise\\nthan he was able to write.\\nWhen Osborne was alone with me, he ex-\\npressed himself still more strongly in favor\\nof what he considered as my performance.\\nHe pretended that he had put some restraint\\non himself before, apprehensive of my con-\\nstruing his commendations into flattery.\\nBut who would have supposed, said he,\\nFranklin to be capable of such a composi-\\ntion? What painting, what energy, what\\nfire He has surpassed the original. In\\nhis common conversation he appears not to", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0087.jp2"}, "88": {"fulltext": "82 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nhave a choice of words he hesitates, and is\\nat a loss; and yet, good God, how he\\nwrites\\nAt our next meeting Ralph discovered the\\ntrick we had played Osborne, who was rallied\\nwithout mercy.\\nBy this adventure Ralph was fixed in his\\nresolution of becoming a poet. I left noth-\\ning unattempted to divert him from his pur-\\npose but he persevered, till at last the read-\\ning of Pope* effected his cure he became,\\nhowever, a very tolerable prose writer. I\\nshall speak more of him hereafter but as I\\nshall probably have no farther occasion to\\nmention the other two, I ought to observe\\nhere, that Watson died a few years after in\\nmy arms. He was greatly regretted for he\\nwas the best of our society. Osborne went\\nto the islands, where he gained considerable\\nreputation as a barrister, and was getting\\nmoney but he died young. We had seri-\\nously engaged, that whoever died first should\\nProbably the Dunciad, where we find him thus im-\\nmortalized by the autlior\\nSilence, ye wolves, while Ralph to Cynthia howls\\nAn niakcH niirlit hideous; answer him. ye owls.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0088.jp2"}, "89": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 83\\nreturn if possible and pay a friendly visit to\\nthe survivx)r, to give him an account of the\\nother world; but he has never fulfilled his\\nengagement.\\nThe Governor appeared to be fond of my\\ncompany, and frequently invited me to his\\nhouse. He always spoke of his intention of\\nsettling me in business as a point that was\\ndecided. I was to take with me letters of\\nrecommendation to a number of his friends\\nand particularly a letter of credit, in order\\nto obtain the necessary sum for the purchase\\nof my press, types, and paper. He appointed\\nvarious times for n e to come for these letters,\\nwhich would certainly be ready and, when\\nI came, always put me ofi* to another day.\\nThese successive delays continued till the\\nvessel, whose departure had been several\\ntimes deferred, was on the point of setting\\nsail; when I again went to Sir William s\\nhouse, to receive my letters and take leave\\nof him. I saw his secretary, Dr. Bard, who\\ntold me, that the Governor was extremely\\nbusy writing, but that he would be down at\\nNewcastle before the vessel, and that the let-\\nters would be delivered to me there.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0089.jp2"}, "90": {"fulltext": "84 LIFE OP DK. FRANKLIN.\\nRalph, though he was married and had a\\nchild, determined to accompany me in thia\\nvoyage. His object was supposed to be the\\nestablishing a correspondence with some mer-\\ncantile houses, in order to sell goods by com-\\nmission but I afterwards learned that, hav-\\ning reason to be dissatisfied with the parents\\nof his wife, he proposed to himself to leave\\nher on their hands, and never return to\\nAmerica again.\\nHaving taken leave of my friends, and in-\\nterchanged promises of fidelity with Miss\\nReadj I quitted Philadelphia. At Newcastle\\nthe vessel came to anchor. The Governor\\nwas arrived, and I went to his lodgings.\\nHis secretary received me with great civility,\\ntold me, on the part of the Governor, that\\nhe could not see me then, as he was engaged\\nin afiairs of the utmost importance, but that\\nhe would send the letters on board, and that\\nhe wished me, with all his heart, a good voy-\\nage and speedy return. I returned, some-\\nwhat astonished, to the ship, but still without\\nentertaining the slightest suspicion.\\nMr. Hamilton, a celebrated barrister of\\nPhiladelphia, had taken a passage to Eng-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0090.jp2"}, "91": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 85\\nland for himself and his son, and, in conjunc-\\ntion with Mr. Denham, a Quaker, and Messrs.\\nOniam and Russel, proprietors of a forge in\\nMaryland, had agreed for the whole cabin,\\nso that Ralph and I were obliged to take up\\nour lodging with the crew. Being unknown\\nto every body in the ship, we were looked\\nupon as of the common order of people but\\nMr. Hamilton and his son (it was James, who\\nwas afterwards governor) left us at Newcastle,\\nand returned to Philadelphia, where he was\\nrecalled at a very great expense, to plead\\nthe cause of a vessel that had been seized\\nand just as we were about to sail. Colonel\\nFrench came on board, and showed me many\\ncivilities. The passengers upon this paid me\\nmore attention, and I was invited, together\\nwith my friend Ralph, to occupy the place\\nin the cabin which the return of the Mr.\\nHamiltons had made vacant an oflfer which\\nwe very readily accepted.\\nHaving learned that the despatches of the\\nGovernor had been brought on board by\\nColonel French, I asked the captain for the\\nletters that were to be intrusted to my care.\\nHe told me that they were all put together", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0091.jp2"}, "92": {"fulltext": "86 LIFE OF Dli. TRAiNKLIN.\\nin the bag, which he could not open at pres-\\nent; but before we reached England, he\\nwould give me an opportunity of taking them\\nout. I was satisfied with this answer, and\\nwe pursued our voyage.\\nThe company in the cabin were all very\\nsociable, and we were perfectly well off as to\\nprovisions, as we had the advantage of the\\nwhole of Mr. Hamilton s, who had laid in a\\nvery plentiful stock. During the passage,\\nMr. Denham contracted a friendship for me,\\nwhich ended only with his life in other re\u00c2\u00bb\\nspects the voyage was by no means an agree-\\nable one, as we had much bad weather.\\nWhen we arrived in the river, the captain\\nwas as good as his word, and allowed me to\\nsearch in the bag for the Governor s letters.\\nI could not find a single one with my name\\nw^ritten on it, as committed to my care but\\nI selected six or seven, which I judged from\\nthe direction to be those that were intended\\nfor me particularly one to Mr. Basket, the\\nKing s printer, and another to a stationer,\\nwho was the first person I called upon. I\\ndelivered him the letter as coming from Gov-\\nernor Keith. I have no acquaintance,", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0092.jp2"}, "93": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 87\\nsaid he, with any such person and, open-\\ning the letter, Oh, it is from Riddlesden\\nhe exclaimed. I have lately discovered\\nhim to be a very arrant knave, and wish to\\nhave nothing to do either with him or his\\nletters. He instantly put the letter into my\\nhand, turned upon his heel, and left me to\\nserve some customers.\\nI was astonished at finding these letters\\nwere not from the Governor. Reflecting,\\nand putting circumstances together, I then\\nbegan to doubt his sincerity. I rejoined my\\nfriend Denham, and related the whole affair\\nto him. He let me at once into Keith s char-\\nacter, told me there was not the least proba-\\nbility of his having written a single letter\\nthat no one who knew him ever placed any\\nreliance on him, and laughed at my credulity\\nin supposing that the Governor would give\\nme a letter of credit, when he had no credit\\nfor himself. As I showed some uneasiness\\nrespecting what step I should take, he ad-\\nvised me to try to get employment in the\\nhouse of some printer. You may there,\\nsaid he, improve yourself in business, and\\nyou will be able to settle yourself the raor^", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0093.jp2"}, "94": {"fulltext": "88 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nadvantageously when you return to Amer-\\nica.\\nWe knew already, as well as the stationer,\\nattorney Eiddlesden to be a knave. He had\\nnearly ruined the father of Miss Read, by\\ndrawing him in to be his security. We\\nlearned from his letter, that he was secretly\\ncarrying on an intrigue, in concert with the\\nGovernor, to the prejudice of Mr. Hamilton,\\nwho, it was supposed, would by this time be\\nin Europe. Denham, who was Hamilton s\\nfriend, was of opinion that he ought to be\\nmade acquainted with it; and, in reality, the\\ninstant he arrived in England, which was\\nvery soon after, I waited on him, and, as\\nmuch from good- will to him, as from resent-\\nment against the Governor, put the letter into\\nhis hands. He thanked me very sincerely,\\nthe information it contained being of conse-\\nquence to him; and from that moment be-\\nstowed on me his friendship, which afterwards\\nproved, on many occasions, serviceable to me.\\nBut what are we to think of a Governor\\nwho could play so scurvy a trick, and thus\\ngrossly deceive a poor young lad, wholly des-\\ntitute of experience It was a practice with", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0094.jp2"}, "95": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 8^\\nhim. Wishing to please every body, and\\nhaving Kttle to bestow, he was lavish of\\npromises. He was, in other respects, sen-\\nsible and judicious, a very tolerable writer,\\nand a good governor for the people though\\nnot so for the proprietaries, whose instruc-\\ntions he frequently disregarded. Many of\\nour best laws were his work, and established\\nduring his administration.\\nRalph and I were inseparable companions.\\nWe took a lodging together at three and\\nsixpence a week, which was as much as we\\ncould afford. He met with some relations in\\nLondon, but they were poor, and not able to\\nassist him. He now, for the first time, in-\\nformed me of his intention to remain in Eng-\\nland, and that he had no thoughts of ever\\nreturning to Philadelphia. He was totally\\nwithout money the little he had been able\\nto raise having barely sufficed for his pas-\\nsage. I had still fifteen pistoles remaining\\nand to me he had from time to time recourse,\\nwhile he tried to get employment.\\nAt first believing himself possessed of\\ntalents for the stage, he thought of turning\\nactor* but Wilkes, to whom he applied,", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0095.jp2"}, "96": {"fulltext": "90 LiiE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nfrankly advised him to renounce the idea, as\\nit was impossible he should succeed. He\\nnext proposed to Roberts, a bookseller in\\nPaternoster Row, to write a weekly paper in\\nthe manner of the Spectator, upon terms to\\nwhich Roberts would not listen. Lastly, he en-\\ndeavored to procure employment as a copyist,\\nand applied to the lawyers and stationers about\\nthe Temple, but he could find no vacancy.\\nAs to myself, I immediately got engaged\\nat Palmer s, at that time a noted printer in\\nBartholomew-close, with whom I continued\\nnearly a year. I applied very assiduously to\\nmy work but I expended with Ralph almost\\nall that I earned. Plays and other places of\\namusement which we frequented together,\\nhaving exhausted my pistoles, we lived after\\nthis from hand to mouth. He appeared to\\nhave entirely forgotten his wife and child, as\\nI also, by degrees, forgot my engagements\\nwith Miss Read, to whom I never wrote more\\nthan one letter, and that merely to inform\\nher that I was not likely to return soon.\\nThis was another grand error of my life,\\nwhich I should be desirous of correcting were\\nI to begin my career again.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0096.jp2"}, "97": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. rRANKLIN. 91\\nI was employed at Palmer s on the second\\nedition of Woolaston s Religion of Nature.\\nSome of his arguments appearing to me not\\nto be well founded, I wrote a small metaphy-\\nsical treatise, in which I animadverted on\\nthose passages. It was entitled a Disser-\\ntation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure\\nand Pain. I dedicated it to my friend\\nRalph, and printed a small number of copies.\\nPalmer upon this treated me with more con-\\nsideration, and regarded me as a young man\\nof talents though he seriously took me to\\ntask for the principles of my pamphlet, which\\nhe looked upon as abominable. The print-\\ning of this work was another error of my\\nlife.\\nWhile I lodged in Little Britain I formed\\nan acquaintance with a bookseller of the\\nname of Wilcox, whose shop was next door\\ntome. Circulating libraries were not then\\nin use. He had an immense collection of\\nbooks of all sorts. We agreed that, for a\\nreasonable retribution, of which I have now\\nforgotten the price, I should have free access\\nto his library, and take what books I pleased,\\nwhich I was to return when I had read them", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0097.jp2"}, "98": {"fulltext": "92 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nI considered this agreement as a very great\\nadvantage and I derived from it as much\\nbenefit as was in my power.\\nMy pamphlet falling into the hands of a\\nsurgeon, of the name of Lyons, author of a\\nbook entitled, Infallibility of Human Judg-\\nment,* was the occasion of a considerable in-\\ntima-cy between us. He expressed great es-\\nteem for me, came frequently to see me, in\\norder to converse upon metaphysical subjects,\\nand introduced me to Dr. Mandeville, author\\nof the Fable of the Bees, who had instituted\\na club at a tavern in Cheapside, of which he\\nwas the soul he was a facetious and very\\namusing character. He also introduced me,\\nat Batson s cofiee-house, to Dr. Pemberton,\\nwho promised to give me an opportunity of\\nseeing Sir Isaac Newton, which I very ard-\\nently desired but he never kept his word.\\nI had brought some curiosities with me\\nfrom America the principal of which was a\\npurse made of the asbestos, which fire only\\npurifies. Sir Hans Sloane, hearing of it,\\ncalled upon me, and invited me to his house\\nin Bloomsbury Square, where, after showing\\nme every thing that was curious, he prevailed", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0098.jp2"}, "99": {"fulltext": "iilFE or DR. TRANKLIN. 98\\non me to add this piece to his collection for\\nwhich he paid me very handsomely.\\nThere lodged in the same house with us a\\nyoung woman, a milliner, who had a shop by\\nthe side of the Exchange. Lively and ^en-\\nsible, and having received an education some-\\nwhat above her rank, her conversation was\\nvery agreeable. Ralph read plays to her\\nevery evening. They became intimate. She\\ntook another lodging, and he followed her.\\nThey lived for some time together; but\\nRalph being without employment, she having\\na child, and the profits of her business not\\nsufficing for the maintenance of three, he re-\\nsolved to quit London, and try a country\\nschool. This was a plan in which he thought\\nhimself likely to succeed as he wrote a fine\\nhand, and was versed in arithmetic and ac-\\ncounts. But considering the office as be-\\nneath him, and expecting some day to make\\na better figure in the world, when he should\\nbe ashamed of its being known that he had\\nexercised a profession so little honorable, he\\nchanged his name, and did me the honor of\\nassuming mine. He wrote to me soon after\\nhis departure, informing me that he was set-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0099.jp2"}, "100": {"fulltext": "94 LIFE OF DR. FllANKUN.\\ntied at a small village in Berkshire. In Ms\\nletter lie recommended Mrs. T. the milliner,\\nto my care, and requested an answer, di-\\nrected to Mr. Franklin, schoolmaster at N**.\\nHe continued to write to me frequently,\\nsending me large fragments of an epic poem\\nhe was composing, and which he requested\\nme to criticise and correct. I did so, but not\\nwithout endeavoring to prevail on him to re-\\nnounce this pursuit. Young had just pub-\\nlished one of his Satires. I copied and sent\\nhim a great part of it in which the author\\ndemonstrates the folly of cultivating the\\nmuses, from the hope, by their instrumental-\\nity, of rising in the world. It was all to no\\npurpose paper after paper of his poem con-\\ntinued to arrive every post.\\nMeanwhile Mrs. T*** having lost, on his ac-\\ncount, both her friends and business, was fre-\\nquently in distress. In this dilemma she had\\nrecourse to me, and, to extricate her from her\\ndifficulties, I lent her all the money I could\\nspare. I felt a little too much fondness for\\nher. Having at that time no ties of religion,\\nand, taking advantage of her necessitous sit-\\nuation, I attempted liberties (another error", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0100.jp2"}, "101": {"fulltext": "MFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 95\\nof my life), which she repelled with becom-\\ning indignation. She informed Ralph of my\\nconduct and the affair occasioned a breach\\nbetween us. When he returned to London,\\nhe gave me to understand that he considered\\nall the obligations he owed me as annihilated\\nby this proceeding whence I concluded that\\nI was never to expect the payment of what\\nmoney I had lent him, or advanced on his\\naccount. I was the less afficted at this, as\\nhe was wholly unable to pay me and as, by\\nlosing his friendship, I was relieved at the\\nsame time from a very heavy burden.\\nI now began to think of laying by some\\nmoney. The printing-house of Watts, near\\nLincoln s-inn-fields, being a still more consid-\\nerable one than that in which I worked, it\\nwas probable I might find it more advanta-\\ngeous to be employed there. I offered my-\\nself, and was accepted and in this house I\\ncontinued during the remainder of my stay\\nin London.\\nOn my entrance I worked at first as a\\npressman, conceiving that I had need of\\nbodily exercise, to which I had been accus-\\ntomed in America, where the printers work", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0101.jp2"}, "102": {"fulltext": "Ub LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nalternately as compositors and at the press.\\nI drank nothing but water. The other work-\\nmen, to the number of about fifty, were great\\ndrinkers of beer. I carried occasionally a\\nlarge form of letters in each hand, up and\\ndown stairs, while the rest employed both\\nhands to carry one. They were surprised to\\nsee, by this and many other examples, that the\\nAmerican Aquaticy as they used to call me.\\nwas stronger than those who drank porter.\\nThe beer-boy had sufficient employment du-\\nring the whole day in serving that house\\nalone. My fellow pressman drank every day\\na pint of beer before breakfast, a pint with\\nbread and cheese for breakfast, one between\\nbreakfast and dinner, one again about six\\no clock in the afternoon, and another after\\nhe had finished his day s work. This cus-\\ntom appeared to me abominable but he had\\nneed, he said, of all this beer, in order to ac-\\nquire strength to work.\\nI endeavored to convince him that the\\nbodily strength furnished by the beer, could\\nonly be in proportion to the solid part of the\\nbarley dissolved in the water of which the\\nbeer was composed that there was a larger", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0102.jp2"}, "103": {"fulltext": "LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN. 97\\nportion of flour in a penny loaf, and that con-\\nsequently if lie ate this loaf, and drank a pint\\nof water with it, he would derive more strength\\nfrom it than from a pint of beer. This rea-\\nsoning, however, did not prevent him from\\ndrinking his accustomed quantity of beer,\\nand paying every Saturday night a score of\\nfour or five shillings a week for this cursed\\nbeverage; an expense from which I was\\nwholly exempt. Thus do these poor devils\\ncontinue all their lives in a state of voluntary\\nwretchedness and poverty.\\nAt the end of a few weeks. Watts having\\noccasion for me above stairs as a compositor,\\nI quitted the press. The compositors de-\\nmanded of me garnish-money afresh. This\\nI considered as an imposition, having already\\npaid below. The master was of the same\\nopinion, and desired me not to comply. I\\nthus remained two or three weeks out of the\\nfraternity. I was consequently looked upon\\nas excommunicated and whenever I was ab-\\nsent, no little trick that malice could suggest\\nwas left unpractised upon me. I found my\\nletters mixed, my pages transposed, my mat-\\nter broken, c., c., all which was attributed\\n7 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0103.jp2"}, "104": {"fulltext": "98 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nto the spirit that haunted the chapel* aiKi\\ntormented those that were not regularly ad-\\nmitted. I was at last obliged to submit to\\npay, notwithstanding the protection of the\\nmaster convinced of the folly of not keep-\\ning up a good understanding with those\\namong whom we are destined to live.\\nAfter this I lived in the utmost harmony\\nwith my fellow laborers, and soon acquired\\nconsiderable influence among them. I pro-\\nposed some alteration in the laws of the\\nchapel, which I carried without opposition.\\nMy example prevailed with several of them\\nto renounce their abominable practice of\\nbread and cheese with beer and they pro-\\ncured, like me, from a neighboring house, a\\ngood basin of warm gruel, in which was a\\nsmall slice of butter, with toasted bread and\\nnutmeg. This was a much better breakfast,\\nwhich did not cost more than a pint of beer,\\nnamely, three-halfpence, and at the same\\ntime preserved the head clearer. Those who\\ncontinued to gorge themselves with beer,\\noften lost their credit with the publican, from\\nPrinting-houses in general are thus denominated bj\\nthe workmen the spirit they caU by the name of Ralph.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0104.jp2"}, "105": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 99\\nneglecting to pay their score. They had then\\nrecourse to me, to become security for them\\ntheir lights as they used to call it, being out.\\nI attended at the pay-table every Saturday\\nevening, to take up the little sum which I\\nhad made myself answerable for and which\\nsometimes amounted to nearly thirty shil-\\nlings a week.\\nThis circumstance added to my reputation\\nof being a tolerable good gabber^ or, in other\\nwords, skilful in the art of burlesque, kept\\nup my importance in the chapel. I had be-\\nsides recommended myself to the esteem of\\nmy master by my assiduous application to\\nbusiness, never observing Saint Monday.\\nMy extraordinary quickness in composing\\nalways procured me such work as was most\\nurgent, and which is commonly best paid\\nand thus my time passed away in a very\\npleasant manner.\\nMy lodging in Little Britain being too far\\nfrom the printing-house, I took another in\\nDuke Street, opposite the Roman Catholic\\nchapel. It was at the back of an Italian\\nwarehouse. The house was kept by a widow,\\nwho had a daughter, a servant, and a shop-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0105.jp2"}, "106": {"fulltext": "100 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nboy but the latter slept out of the house.\\nAfter sending to the people with whom I\\nlodged in Little Britain, to inquire into my\\ncharacter, she agreed to take me in at the\\nsame price, three and sixpence a week con-\\ntenting herself, she said, with so little, be-\\ncause of the security she should derive, as\\nthey were all women, from having a man\\nlodger in the house.\\nShe was a woman rather advanced in life,\\nthe daughter of a clergyman. She had been\\neducated a Protestant; but her husband,\\nwhose memory she highly revered, had con-\\nverted her to the Catholic religion. She had\\nlived in habits of intimacy with persons of\\ndistinction of whom she knew various anec-\\ndotes as far back as the time of Charles II.\\nBeing subject to fits of the gout, which often\\nconfined her to her room, she was sometimes\\ndisposed to see company. Hers was so amus-\\ning to me, that I was glad to pass the even-\\ning with her as often as she desired it. Our\\nsupper consisted only of half an anchovy\\na-piece, upon a slice of bread and butter,\\nwith half a pint of ale between us. But the\\nentertainment was in her conversation.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0106.jp2"}, "107": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 101\\nThe early hours I kept, and the little\\ntrouble I occasioned in the family, made her\\nloath to part with me and when I mentioned\\nanother lodging I had found, nearer the\\nprinting-house, at two shillings a week, which\\nfell in with my plan of saving, she persuaded\\nme to give it up, making herself an abate-\\nment of two shillings and thus I continued\\nto lodge with her, during the remainder of\\nmy abode in London, at eighteen pence a\\nweek.\\nIn a garret of the house there lived, in a\\nmost retired manner, a lady seventy years of\\nage, of whom I received the following account\\nof my landlady. She was a Roman Catho-\\nlic. In her early years she had been sent to\\nthe continent, and entered a convent with\\nthe design of becojning a nun but the cli-\\nmate not agreeing with her constitution, she\\nwas obliged to return to England, where, as\\nthere was no monasteries, she made a vow to\\nlead a monastic life, in as rigid a manner as\\ncircumstances would permit. She accord-\\ningly disposed of all her property to be ap-\\nplied to charitable uses, reserving to herself\\nonly twelve pounds a year and of this small", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0107.jp2"}, "108": {"fulltext": "102 LITE OE DR. FRANKLIN\\npittance she gave a part to the poor, living\\non water gruel, and never making use of fire\\nbut to boil it. She had lived in this garret\\na great many years, without paying rent to\\nthe successive Catholic inhabitants that had\\nkept the house who indeed considered her\\nabode with them as a blessing. A priest\\ncame every day to confess her. I have\\nasked her, said my landlady, how, living\\nas she did, she could find so much employ-\\nment for a confessor? To which she an-\\nswered, that it was impossible to avoid vain\\nthoughts.\\nI was once permitted to visit her. She\\nwas cheerful and polite, and her conversation\\nagreeable. Her apartment was neat; but\\nthe whole furniture consisted of a mattrass,\\na table on which was a crucifix and a book,\\na chair, w ich she gave me to sit on, and\\nover the mantel-piece a picture of St. Vero-\\nnica displaying her handkerchief, on which\\nwas seen the miraculous impression of the\\nface of Christ, which she explained to me\\nwith great gravity. Her countenance was\\npale, but she had never experienced sick-\\nness; and I may adduce her as another", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0108.jp2"}, "109": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 103\\nproof how little is sufficient to maintain life\\nand health.\\nAt the printing-house I contracted an in-\\ntimacy with a sensible young man of the\\nname of Wygate, who, as his parents were in\\ngood circumstances, had received a better ed-\\nucation than is common among printers. He\\nwas a tolerable Latin scholar, spoke French\\nfluently, and was fond of reading. I taught\\nhim, as well as a friend of his, to swim, by\\ntaking them twice only into the river after\\nwhich they stood in need of no farther as-\\nsistance. We one day made a party to go\\nby water to Chelsea, in order to see the Col-\\nlege, and Don Soltero s curiosities. On our\\nreturn, at the request of the company, whose\\ncuriosity Wygate had excited, I undressed\\nmyself, and leaped into the river. I swam\\nfrom near Chelsea the whole way to Black-\\nfriars Bridge, exhibiting, during my course,\\na variety of feats of activity and address,\\nboth upon the surface of the water, as well\\nas under it. This sight occasioned much as-\\ntonishment and pleasure to those to whom it\\nwas new. In my youth I took great delight\\nin this exercise. I knew, and could execute", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0109.jp2"}, "110": {"fulltext": "104 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nall the evolutions and positions of Thevenot;,\\nand I added to them some of my own inven-\\ntion, in which I endeavored to unite grace-\\nfulness and utility. I took a pleasure in dis-\\nplaying them all on this occasion, and was\\nhighly flattered with the admiration they\\nexcited.\\nWygate, besides his being desirous of per-\\nfecting himself in this art, was the more at-\\ntached to me from there being, in other re-\\nspects, a conformity in our tastes and stud-\\nies. He at length proposed to me to make\\nthe tour of Europe with him, maintaining\\nourselves at the same time by working at our\\nprofession. I was on the point of consent-\\ning, when I mentioned it to my friend, Mr.\\nDenham, with whom I was glad to pass an\\nhour whenever I had leisure. He dissuaded\\nme from the project, and advised me to think\\nof returning to Philadelphia, which he was\\nabout to do himself. I must relate in this\\nplace a trait of this worthy man s character.\\nHe had formerly been in business at Bris-\\ntol, but failing, he compounded with his cred-\\nitors, and departed for America, where, by\\nassiduous application as a merchant, he ac-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0110.jp2"}, "111": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 105\\nquired in a few years a very considerable for-\\ntune. Returning to England in the same\\nvessel with myself, as I have related above,\\nhe invited all his old creditors to a feast.\\nWhen assembled, he thanked them for the\\nreadiness with which they had received his\\nsmall composition and, while they expected\\nnothing more than a simple entertainment,\\neach found under his plate, when it came to\\nbe removed, a draft upon a banker for the\\nresidue of his debt, with interest.\\nHe told me that it was his intention to\\ncarry back with him to Philadelphia a great\\nquantity of goods, in order to open a store\\nand he offered to take me with him in the ca-\\npacity of clerk, to keep his books, in which\\nhe would instruct me, copy letters, and su-\\nperintend the store. He added, that as soon\\nas I had acquired a knowledge of mercantile\\ntransactions, he would improve my situation,\\nby sending me with a cargo of corn and flour\\nto the American islands, and by procuring\\nme other lucrative commission so that, with\\ngood management and economy, I might in\\ntime begin business with advantage for myself.\\nI relished these proposals. London began\\n8 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0111.jp2"}, "112": {"fulltext": "106 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nto tire me the agreeable hours I had passed\\nat Philadelphia presented themselves to my\\nmind, and I wished to see them revive. I\\nconsequently engaged myself to Mr. Den-\\nham, at a salary of fifty pounds a year. This\\nwas indeed less than I earned as a compos-\\nitor, but then I had a much fairer prospect.\\nI took leave, therefore, as I believed forever,\\nof printing, and gave myself up to my new\\noccupation, spending all my time either in\\ngoing from house to house with Mr. Denham\\nto purchase goods, or in packing them up, or\\nin expediting the workmen, c., c. When\\nevery thing, however, was on board, I had at\\nlast a few days leisure.\\nDuring this interval, I was one day sent\\nfor by a gentleman, whom I knew only by\\nname. It was Sir William Wyndham. I\\nwent to his house. He had by some means\\nheard of my performances between Chelsea\\nand Blackfriars, and that I had taught the\\nart of swimming to Wygate and another\\nyoung man in the course of a few hours.\\nHis two sons were on the point of setting out\\non their travels he was desirous that they\\nshould previously learn to swim, and offered", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0112.jp2"}, "113": {"fulltext": "LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN 107\\nme a very liberal reward if I would under-\\ntake to instruct them. They were not yet\\narrived in town, and the stay I should make\\nwas uncertain I could not therefore accept\\nhis proposal. I was led, however, to sup-\\npose from this incident, that if I had wished\\nto remain in London, and open a swimming\\nschool, I should perhaps have gained a great\\ndeal of money. The idea struck me so for-\\ncibly that, had the offer been made sooner, I\\nshould have dismissed the thought of return-\\ning as yet to America. Some years after,\\nyou and I had a more important business to\\nsettle with one of the sons of Sir William\\nWyndham, then Lord Egremont. But let\\nus not anticipate events.\\nI thus po.ssed about eighteen months in\\nLondon, working almost without intermission\\nat my trade, avoiding all expense on my own\\naccount, except going now and then to the\\nplay, and purchasing a few books. But my\\nfriend Ralph kept me poor. He owed me\\nabout twenty-seven pounds, which was so\\nmuch money lost and when considered as\\ntaken from my little savings, was a very\\ngreat sum. I had, notwithstanding this, a", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0113.jp2"}, "114": {"fulltext": "108 LIEE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nregard for him, as he possessed manj i*miable\\nqualites. But though I had done nothing for\\nmyself in point of fortune, I had increased\\nmy stock of knowledge, either by the man}\\nexcellent books I had read, or the conversa-\\ntion of learned and literary persons witK\\nwhom I was acquainted.\\nWe sailed from Gravesend on the 23d 0/\\nJuly, 1726. For the incidents of my voyage\\nI refer you to my Journal, where you will\\nfind all its circumstances minutely related.\\nWe landed at Philadelphia on the 11th of\\nthe following October.\\nKeith had been deprived of his office of\\nGovernor, and was succeeded by Major Gor-\\ndon. I met him walking in the streets as\\na private individual. He appeared a little\\nashamed at seeing me, but passed on without\\nsaying anything.\\nI should have been equally ashamed my-\\nself at meeting Miss Read, had not her fam-\\nily, justly despairin^y of my return after read-\\ning my letter, advised her to give me up, and\\nmarry a potter, of the name of Rogers to\\nwhich she consented but he never made her\\nhappy, and she soon separated from him, re-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0114.jp2"}, "115": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 109\\nfusing to cohabit with him, or even bear his\\nname, on account of a report which prevailed,\\nof his having another wife. His skill in his\\nprofession had seduced Miss Read s parents\\nbut he was as bad a subject as he was excel-\\nlent as a workman. He involved himself in\\ndebt, and fled, in the year 1727 or 1728, to\\nthe West Indies, where he died.\\nDuring my absence Keimer had taken a\\nmore considerable house, in which he kept a\\nshop, that was well supplied with paper, and\\nvarious other articles. He had procured\\nsome new types, and a number of workmen\\namong whom, however, there was not one\\nwho was good for anything and he appeared\\nnot to want business.\\nMr. Denham took a warehouse in Water\\nStreet, where we exhibited our commodities.\\nI applied myself closely, studied accounts,\\nand became in a short time very expert in\\ntrade. We lodged and eat together. He\\nwas sincerely attached to me, and acted to-\\nwards me as if he had been my father. On\\nmy side, I respected and loved him. My sit-\\nuation was happy but it was a happiness of\\nno long duration.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0115.jp2"}, "116": {"fulltext": "110 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nEarly in February, 1727, when I entered\\ninto my twenty-second year, we were both\\ntaken ill. I was attacked with a pleurisy,\\nwhich had nearly carried me off; I suffered\\nterribly, and considered it as all over with\\nme. I felt indeed a sort of disappointment\\nwhen I found myself likely to recover, and\\nregretted that I had still to experience, sooner\\nor later, the same disagreeable scene again.\\nI have forgotten what was Mr. Denham s\\ndisorder but it was a tedious one, and he at\\nlast sunk under it. He left me a small leg-\\nacy in his will, as a testimony of his friend-\\nship and I was once more abandoned to my-\\nself in the wide world, the warehouse being\\nconfided to the care of the testamentary ex-\\necutor, who dismissed me.\\nMy brother-in-law, Holmes, who happened\\nto be at Philadelphia, advised me to return\\nto my former profession and Keimer offered\\nme a very considerable salary if I would un-\\ndertake the management of his printing-of-\\nfice, that he might devote himself entirely to\\nthe superintendence of his shop. His wife\\nand relations in London had given me a bad\\ncharacter of him and I was loath, for the", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0116.jp2"}, "117": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN 111\\npresent, to have any concern with him. I\\nendeavored to get employment as a clerk to\\na merchant but not readily finding a situa-\\ntion, I was induced to accept Keimer s pro-\\nThe following were the persons I found in\\nhis printing-house.\\nHugh Meredith, a Pennsylvanian, about\\nthirty-five years of age. He had been brought\\nup to husbandry, was honest, sensible, had\\nsome experience, and was fond of reading\\nbut too much addicted to drinking.\\nStephen Potts, a young rustic, just broke\\nfrom school, and of rustic education, with en-\\ndowments rather above the common order,\\nand a competent portion of understanding\\nand gaiety but a little idle. Keimer had\\nengaged these two at very low wages,\\nwhich he had promised to raise every three\\nmonths a shilling a week, provided their im-\\nprovement in the typographic art should\\nmerit it. This future increase of wages was\\nthe bait he had made use of to ensnare them.\\nMeredith was to work at the press, and Potts\\nto bind books, which he had engaged to\\nteach them, though he understood neither\\nhimself.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0117.jp2"}, "118": {"fulltext": "112 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nJolin Savage, an Irishman, who had been\\nbrought up to no trade, and whose service,\\nfor a period of four years, Keimer had pur-\\nchased of the captain of a ship. He was also\\nto be a pressman.\\nGeorge Webb, an Oxford scholar, whose\\ntime he had in like manner bought for four\\nyears, intending him for a compositor. I\\nshall speak more of him presently.\\nLastly, David Harry, a country lad, who\\nwas apprenticed to him.\\nI soon perceived that Keimer*s intention,\\nin engaging me at a price so much above\\nwhat he was accustomed to give, was, that I\\nmight form all these raw journeymen and ap-\\nprentices, who scarcely cost him anything,\\nand who, being indentured, would, as soon\\nas they should be suflEiciently instructed, en-\\nable him to do without me. I nevertheless\\nadhered to my agreement. I put the office\\nin order, which was in the utmost confusion,\\nand brought his people, by degrees, to pay\\nattention to their work, and to execute it in\\na more masterly style.\\nIt was singular to see an Oxford scholar\\nin the condition of a purchased servant. lie", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0118.jp2"}, "119": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 113\\nwas not more than eighteen years of age;\\nand the following are the particulars he gave\\nme of himself. Born at Gloucester, he had\\nbeen educated at a grammar-school, and had\\ndistinguished himself among the scholars by\\nhis superior style of acting, when they rep-\\nresented dramatic performances. He was\\nmember of a literary club in the town and\\nsome pieces of his composition, in prose as\\nwell as in verse, had been inserted in the\\nGloucester papers. From hence he was sent\\nto Oxford, where he remained about a year;\\nbut he was not contented, and wished above\\nall things to see London, and become an\\nactor. At length, having received fifteen\\nguineas to pay his quarter s board, he de-\\ncamped with the money from Oxford, hid his\\ngown in a hedge, and traveled to London.\\nThere, having no friend to direct him, he\\nfell into bad company, soon squandered his\\nfifteen guineas, could find no way of being\\nintroduced to the actors, became contempti-\\nble, pawned his clothes, and was in want of\\nbread. As he was walking along the streets,\\nalmost famished with hunger, and not know-\\ning what to do, a recruiting bill was put into", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0119.jp2"}, "120": {"fulltext": "114 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nhis hand, which offered an immediate treat\\nand bounty-money to whoever was disposed\\nto serve in America. He instantly repaired\\nto the house of rendezvous, enlisted himself,\\nwas put on board a ship, and conveyed to\\nAmerica, without ever writing a line to in-\\nform his parents what was become of him.\\nHis mental vivacity, and good natural dispo-\\nsition, made him an excellent companion\\nbut he was indolent, thoughtless, and to the\\nlast degree imprudent.\\nJohn, the Irishman, soon ran away. I be-\\ngan to live very agreeably with the rest.\\nThey respected me, and the more so as they\\nfound Keimer incapable of instructing them,\\nand as they learned something from me every\\nday. We never worked on a Saturday, it\\nbeing Keimer s sabbath so that I had two\\ndays a week for reading.\\nI increased my acquaintance with persons\\nof knowledge and information in the town.\\nXeimer himself treated me with great civility\\nand apparent esteem and I had nothing to\\ngive me uneasiness but my debt to Vernon,\\nwhich T wiis unable to pay, my savings as yet", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0120.jp2"}, "121": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 115\\nbeing very little. He had the goodness,\\nhowever, not to ask me for the money.\\nOur press was frequently in want of the\\nnecessary quantity of letter and there was\\nno such trade as that of letter-founder in\\nAmerica, I had seen the practice of this art\\nat the house of James, in London but had\\nat the time paid it very little attention. I\\nhowever contrived to fabricate a mould. I\\nmade use of such letters as we had for\\npunches, founded new letters of lead in mat-\\nrices of clay, and thus supplied, in a tol-\\nerable manner, the wants that were most\\npressing.\\nI also, upon occasions, engraved various\\nornaments, made ink, gave an eye to the\\nshop in short, 1 was in every respect the\\nfactotum. But useful as I made myself, I\\nperceived that my services became every day\\nof less importance, in proportion as the other\\nmen improved; and when Keimer paid me\\nmy second quarter s wages, he gave me to\\nunderstand that they were too heavy, and\\nthat he thought I ought to make an abate-\\nment. He became by degrees less civil, and", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0121.jp2"}, "122": {"fulltext": "116 LIFE or DR. FRANKLIN.\\nassumed more the tone of master. He fre-\\nquently found fault, was difficult to please,\\nand seemed always on the point of coming to\\nan open quarrel with me.\\nI continued, however, to bear it patiently,\\nconceiving that his ill humor was partly oc-\\ncasioned by the derangement and embarrass-\\nment of his affairo. At last a slight incident\\nbroke our connection. Hearing a noise in the\\nneighborhood, I put my head out at the win-\\ndow to see what was the matter. Keimer\\nbeing in the street, observed me, and, in a\\nloud and angry tone, told me to mind my\\nwork adding some reproaohful words, which\\npiqued me the more, as they were uttered in\\nthe street, and the neighbors, whom the same\\nnoise had attracted to the \\\\7ind0ws, were wit-\\nnesses of the manner in which I was treated.\\nHe immediately came up to the printing-\\nroom, and continued to exclaim against me.\\nThe quarrel became warm on both sides, and\\nhe gave me notice to quit him at the expira-\\ntion of three months, as had been agreed\\nupon between us regretting that he was\\nobliged to give me so long a term. I told\\nhim that his regre was superfluous, as I was", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0122.jp2"}, "123": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 117\\nready to quit him instantly and I took my\\nhat and came out of the house, begging Mer-\\nedith to take care of some things which I\\nleft, and bring them to my lodgings.\\nMeredith came to me in the evening. We\\ntalked for some time upon the quarrel that\\nhad taken place. He had conceived a great\\nveneration for me, and was sorry I should\\nquit the house while he remained in it. He\\ndissuaded me from returning to my native\\ncountry, as I began to think of doing. He\\nreminded me that Keimer owed me more than\\nhe possessed that his creditors began to be\\nalarmed that he kept his shop in a wretched\\nstate, often selling things at prime cost for\\nthe sake of ready money, and continually\\ngiving credit without keeping any accounts\\nthat of consequence he must very soon fail,\\nwhich would occasion a vacancy from which\\nI might derive advantage. I objected my\\nwant of money. Upon which he informed\\nthat his father had a very high opinion of\\nme, and, from a conversation that had passed\\nbetween them, he was sure that he would ad-\\nvance whatever might be necessary to estab-\\nlish us, if I was willing to enter into partner-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0123.jp2"}, "124": {"fulltext": "118 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN\\nship with him. My time with Keimer,\\nadded he, will be at an end next spring.\\nIn the mean time we may send to London for\\nour press and types. I know that I am no\\nworkman but if you agree to the proposal,\\nyour skill in the business will be balanced by\\nthe capital I shall furnish, and we will share\\nthe profits equally. His proposal was sea-\\nsonable, and I fell in with it. His father,\\nwho was then in the town, approved of it.\\nHe knew that I had some ascendency over\\nhis son, as I had been able to prevail on him\\nto abstain a long time from drinking brandy\\nand he hoped that, when more closely con-\\nnected with him, I should cure him entirely\\nof this unfortunate habit.\\nI gave the father a list of what it would\\nbe necessary to import from London. He\\ntook it to a merchant, and the order was\\ngiven. We agreed to keep the secret till the\\narrival of the materials, and I was in the\\nmean time to procure work, if possible, in\\nanother printing-house; but there was no\\nplace vacant, and I remained idle. After\\nsome days, Keimer having the expectation\\nof being employed to print some New Jersey", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0124.jp2"}, "125": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 119\\nmoney bills, that would require types and en-\\ngravings which I only could furnish, and\\nfearful that Bradford, by engaging me, might\\ndeprive him of this undertaking, sent me a\\nvery civil message, telling me that old friends\\nought not to be disunited on account of a few\\nwords, which were the effect only of a mo-\\nmentary passion, and inviting me to return\\nto him. Meredith persuaded me to comply\\nwith the invitation, particularly as it would\\nafford him more opportunities of improving\\nhimself in the business by means of my in-\\nstructions. I cS^ so; and we lived upon\\nbetter terms than before our separation.\\nHe obtained the New Jersey business;\\nand, in order to execute it, I constructed a\\ncopper-plate printing-press, the first that had\\nbeen seen in the country. I o:a^rriJvVed vari-\\nous ornaments and vignettes for ihd bills;\\nand we repaired to Burlington together,\\nwhere I executed the whole to general satis-\\nfaction and he received a sum of money for\\nthis work, which enabled him to keep his\\nhead above water for a considerable time\\nlonger.\\nAt Burlington I formed an acquaintance", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0125.jp2"}, "126": {"fulltext": "120 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nwith the principal personages of the prov-\\nince many of whom were commissioned bj\\nthe Assembly to superintend the press, and\\nto see that no more bills were printed than\\nthe law had prescribed. Accordingly they\\nwere constantly with us, each in his turn;\\nand he that came, commonly brought with\\nhim a friend or two to bear him company.\\nMy mind was more cultivated by reading\\nthan Keimer s and it was for this reason,\\nprobably, that they set more value on my\\nconversation. They took me to their houses,\\nintroduced me to their friends, and treated\\nme with the greatest civility; while Keimer,\\nthough master, saw himself a little neglected.\\nHe was, in fact, a strange animal, ignorant\\nof the common modes of life, apt to oppose\\nwith rudeness generally received opinions, an\\nenthusiast in certain points of religion, dis-\\ngustingly unclean in his person, and a little\\nknavish withal.\\nWe remained there nearly three months\\nand at the expiration of this period I could\\ninclude in the list of my friends. Judge Allen,\\nSamuel Bustil, secretary of the pro^^nce,\\nIsaac Pearson, Joseph Cooper, several of the", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0126.jp2"}, "127": {"fulltext": "LIFE OP DB. FRANKLIN. 121\\nSmiths, all members of the Assembly, and\\nIsaac Decon, inspector-general. The last was\\na shrewd and subtle old man. He told me,\\nthat when a boy, his first employment had\\nbeen that of carrying clay to brick-makers\\nthat he did not learn to write till he was\\nsomewhat advanced in life that he was af-\\nterwards employed as an underling to a sur-\\nveyor, who taught him this trade, and that\\nby industry he had at last acquired a compe-\\ntent fortune. I foresee,** said he one day\\nto me, that you will soon supplant this man\\n(speaking of Keimer) and get a fortune in the\\nbusiness at Philadelphia.** He was totally\\nignorant at the time, of my intention of es-\\ntablishing myself there, or any where else.\\nThese friends were very serviceable to me in\\nthe end, as was I also, upon occasion, to\\nsome of them and they have continued ever\\nsince their esteem for me.\\nBefore I relate the particulars of my en-\\ntrance into business, it may be proper to in-\\nform you what was at that time the state of\\nmy mind as to moral principles, that you may\\nsee the degree of influence they had upon the\\nsubsequent events of my life.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0127.jp2"}, "128": {"fulltext": "122 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nMj parents had given me betimes religious\\nimpressions, and I received from my infancy\\na pious education in the principles of Galvan-\\nism. But scarcely was I arrived at fifteen years\\nof age, when, after having doubted in turn of\\ndifferent tenets, according as I found them\\ncombatted in the different books that I read,\\nI began to doubt of revelation itself. Some\\nvolumes against deism fell into my hands.\\nThey were said to be the substance of sermons\\npreached at Boyle s Lecture. It happened\\nthat they produced on me an effect precisely\\nthe reverse of what was intended by the wri-\\nters; for the arguments of the deists, which\\nwere cited in order to be refuted, appeared\\nto me much more forcible than the riefutation\\nitself. In a word, I soon became a perfect\\ndeist. My arguments perverted some other\\nyoung persons, particularly Collins and\\nRalph. But in the sequel, when I recol-\\nlected that they had both used me extremely\\nill, without the smallest remorse when I con-\\nsidered the behavior of Keith, another free-\\nthinker, and my own conduct towards Ver-\\nnon and Miss Read, which at times gave me\\ngreat uneasiness, I was led to suspect that", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0128.jp2"}, "129": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 123\\nthis doctrine, though it might be true, was\\nnot very useful. I began to entertain a less\\nfavorable opinion of my London pamphlet, to\\nwhich I had prefixed, as a motto, the follow-\\ning lines of Dry den:\\nWhatever is is right though purblind man\\nSees but part of the chain, the nearest link,\\nHis eyes not carrying to the equal beam\\nThat poises all above.\\nAnd of which the object was to prove, from\\nthe attributes of God, his goodness, wisdom,\\nand power, that there could be no such thing\\nas evil in the world that vice and virtue did\\nnot in reality exist, and were nothing more\\nthan vain distinctions. I no longer regard\\nit as so blameless a work as I had formerly\\nimagined and I suspected that some error\\nmust have imperceptibly glided into my ar-\\ngument, by which all the inferences I had\\ndrawn from it had been ajffected, as fre-\\nquently happens in metaphysical reasonings.\\nIn a word, I was at last convinced that truth,\\nprobity, and sincerity, in transactions be-\\ntween man and man, were of the utmost im-\\nportance to the happiness of life and I re-\\nsolved from that moment, and wrote the", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0129.jp2"}, "130": {"fulltext": "124 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nresolution in my Journal, to practise them as\\nlong as I lived.\\nRevelation, indeed, as such, had no influ-\\nence on my mind but I was of opinion that,\\nthough certain actions could not be bad\\nmerely because revelation had prohibited\\nthem, or good because it enjoined them, yet\\nit was probable that those actions were pro-\\nhibited because they were bad for us, or en-\\njoined because advantageous in their nature,\\nall things considered. This persuasion. Di-\\nvine Providence^ or some guardian angel, and\\nperhaps a concurrence of favorable circum-\\nstances co-operating, preserved me from all\\nimmorality, or gross and voluntary injustice,\\nto which my want of religion was calculated\\nto expose me, in the dangerous period of\\nyouth, and in the hazardous situations in\\nwhich I sometimes found myself, among\\nstrangers, and at a distance from the eye\\nand admonitions of my father. I may say\\nvoluntary, because the errors into which I\\nhad fallen, had been in a manner the forced\\nresult either of my own inexperience, or the\\ndishonesty of others. Thus, before I entered\\non my own new career, I had imbibed solid", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0130.jp2"}, "131": {"fulltext": "LITE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 125\\nprinciples, and a character of probity. I\\nknew their value and I made a solemn en-\\ngagement with myself never to depart from\\nthem.\\nI had not long returned from Burlington\\nbefore our printing materials arrived from\\nLondon. I settled my accounts with Kei-\\nmer, and quitted him with his own consent,\\nbefore he had any knowledge of our plan.\\nWe found a house to let near the market.\\nWe took it; and, to render the rent less bur-\\ndensome (it was then twenty-four pounds a\\nyear, but I have since known it let for seventy),\\nwe admitted Thomas Godfrey, a glazier, with\\nhis family, who eased us of a considerable\\npart of it and with him we agreed to board.\\nWe had no sooner unpacked our letters,\\nand put our press in order, than a person of\\nmy acquaintance, George House, brought us\\na countryman, whom he had met in the\\nstreets inquiring for a printer. Our money\\nwas almost exhausted by the number of\\nthings we had been obliged to procure. The\\nfive shillings we received from this country-\\nman, the first fruit of our earnings, coming\\nso seasonably, gave me more pleasure than", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0131.jp2"}, "132": {"fulltext": "126 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nany sum I have since gained and the recol-\\nlection of the gratitude I felt on this occa-\\nsion to George House has rendered me often\\nmore disposed than perhaps I should other-\\nwise have been, to encourage young begin-\\nners in trade.\\nThere are in every country morose beings,\\nwho are always prognosticating ruin. There\\nwas one of this stamp at Philadelphia. He\\nwas a man of fortune, declined in years, had\\nan air of wisdom, and a very grave manner\\nof speaking. His name was Samuel Mickel.\\nI knew him not but he stopped one day at\\nmy door, and asked me if I was the young\\nman who had lately opened a new printing-\\nhouse. Upon my answering in the affirma-\\ntive, he said that he was very sorry for me,\\nas it was an expensive undertaking, and the\\nmoney that had been laid out upon it would\\nbe lost, Philadelphia being a place falling\\ninto decay; its inhabitants having all, or\\nnearly all of them, been obliged to call to-\\ngether their creditors. That he knew, from\\nundoubted fact, the circumstances which\\nmight lead us to suppose the contrary, such\\nas new buildings, and the advanced price of", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0132.jp2"}, "133": {"fulltext": "LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN. 127\\nrent, to be deceitful appearances, which in\\nreality cbntributed to hasten the general\\nruin and he gave me so long a detail of mis-\\nfortunes, actually existing, or which were\\nsoon to take place, that he left me almost in\\na state of despair. Had I known this man\\nbefore I entered into trade, I should doubt-\\nless never have ventured. He continued,\\nhowever, to live in this place of decay, and\\nto declaim in the same style, refusing for\\nmany years to buy a house because all was\\ngoing to wreck and in the end I had the\\nsatisfaction to see him pay five times as much\\nfor one as it would have cost him had he pur-\\nchased it when he first began his lamenta-\\ntions.\\nI ought to have related, that, during the\\nautumn of the preceding year, I had united\\nthe majority of well-informed persons of my\\nacquaintance into a club, which we called by\\nthe name of the Junto^ and the object of\\nwhich was to improve our understandings.\\nWe met every Friday evening. The regula-\\ntions I drew up, obliged every member to\\npropose, in his turn, one or more questions\\nupon some point of morality, politics, or phi", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0133.jp2"}, "134": {"fulltext": "128 LIJPE OF DR. FEANKLIN.\\nlosophy, which were to be discussed by the\\nsociety and to read, once in three months,\\nan essay of his own composition, on whatever\\nsubject he pleased. Our debates were under\\nthe direction of a president, and were to be\\ndictated only by a sincere desire of truth\\nthe pleasure of disputing, and the vanity of\\ntriumph having no share in the business;\\nand in order to prevent undue warmth, every\\nexpression which implied obstinate adherence\\nto an opinion, and all direct contradiction,\\nwere prohibited, under small pecuniary pen-\\nalties.\\nThe first members of our club were Joseph\\nBreintnal, whose occupation was that of a\\nscrivener. He was a middle-aged man, of a\\ngood natural disposition, strongly attached\\nto his friends, a great lover of poetry, read-\\ning every thing that came in his way, and\\nwriting tolerably well, ingenious in many\\nlittle trifles, and of an agreeable conversa-\\ntion.\\nThomas Godfrey, a skilful, though self-\\ntaught mathematician, and who was after-\\nwards the inventor of what now goes by the\\nname of Hadley s dial; but he had little", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0134.jp2"}, "135": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 129\\nknowledge out of his own line, and was in-\\nsupportable in company, always requiring,\\nlike *he majority of mathematicians that have\\nfallen in my way, an unusual precision in\\nevery thing that is said, continually contra-\\ndicting, or making trifling distinctions; a\\nsure way of defeating all the ends of conver-\\nsation. He very soon left us.\\nNicholas Scull, a surveyor, and who be-\\ncame afterwards, surveyor-general. He was\\nfond of books, and wrote verses.\\nWilliam Parsons, brought up to the trade\\nof a shoemaker, but who, having a tasj;e for\\nreading, had acquired a profound knowledge\\nof mathematics. He first studied them with\\na view to astrology, and was afterwards the\\nfirst to laugh at his folly. He also became\\nsurveyor-general.\\nWilliam Mawgride, a joiner, and very ex-\\ncellent mechanic, and in other respects a man\\nof solid understanding.\\nHugh Meredith, Stephen Potts, and George\\nWebb, of whom I have already spoken.\\nRobert Grace, a young man of fortune\\ngenerous, animated, and witty fond of epi-\\ngrams, but more fond of his friends.\\n9 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0135.jp2"}, "136": {"fulltext": "130 LIFE OF DR. FRANKJ.iiN\\nAnd, lastly, William Coleman, at that nme\\na merchant s clerk, nnd nearly of my cvn\\nage. He had a cooler and clearer head, a\\nbetter heart, and more scrupulous morals than\\nalmost any other person I have ever met with.\\nHe became a very respectable merchant, and\\none of our provincial judges. Our friendship\\nsubsisted, without interruption, for more th. in\\nforty years, till the period of his death and\\nthe club continued to exist almost as long.\\nThis was the best school for politics and\\nphilosophy that then existed in the province\\nfor our questions, which were read once a\\nweek previous to their discussion, induced us\\nto peruse attentively such books as were writ-\\nten upon the subjects proposed, that we might\\nbe able to speak upon them more pertinently.\\nWe thus acquired the habit of conversing\\nmore agreeably every object being discussed\\nconformably to our regulations, and in a man-\\nner to prevent mutual disgust. To this cir-\\ncumstance may be attributed the long dura^\\ntion of the club which I shall have frequent\\noccasion to mention as I proceed.\\nI have introduced it here, as being one\\nof the means on which I had to count for", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0136.jp2"}, "137": {"fulltext": "^.IFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. t^l\\nsuccess in my business, every member exert-\\ning himself to procure Avork for us. Breint-\\nnal, ?jnong others, obtained for us, on the\\npart of the quakers, the printing of foriy\\nsheets of their history of which the rest was\\nto be done by Keimer. Our execution of this\\nwork was by no means masterly as the price\\nwas very low. It was in folio, upon pro pa-\\ntria paper, and in the pica letter, with heavy\\nnotes in the smallest type. I composed a\\nsheet a day, and Meredith put it to the press.\\nIt was frequently eleven o clock at night,\\nsometimes later, before I had finished my\\ndistribution for the next day s task for the\\nlittle things which our friends occasionally\\nsent us, kept us back in this work but I\\nwas so determined to compose a sheet a day,\\nthat one evening, when my form was imposed,\\nand my day s work, as I thought, at an end,\\nan accident having broken this form, and de-\\nranged two complete folio pages, I immedi-\\nately distributed, and composed them anew\\nbefore I went to bed.\\nThis unwearied industry, which was per-\\nceived by our neighbors, began to acquire ua\\nreputation and credit. I learned among other", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0137.jp2"}, "138": {"fulltext": "1S2 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN\\nthings, that our new printing-house, bciiig\\nthe subject of conversation at a club of mer-\\nchants, who met every ereiiing, it was the\\ngeneral opinion that it would fail, there being\\nalrer..v3y tvfo printing-houses izi the town,\\nKebner s and Bradford s. But Dr. Bard,\\nwhom you and I had occasion to see, many\\nyears after, at his native town of St. An-\\ndrew s, in Scotland, was of a different opin-\\nion. The industry of this Franklin (said\\nhe) is superior to any thing of the kind I have\\never witnessed. I see him still at work when\\nI return from the club at night, and he is at\\nit again in the morning before his neighbors\\nare out of bed.** This account struck the\\nrest of the assembly, and, shortly after, one\\nof its members came to our house, and offered\\nto supply us with articles of stationery but\\nwe wished not as yet to embarrass ourselves\\nwith keeping a shop. It is not for the sake\\nof applause that I enter so freely into the\\nparticulars of my industry, but that such of\\nmy descendants as shall read these memoirs\\nmay know the use of this virtue, by seeing in\\nthe recital of my life the effects it operated\\nin my favor.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0138.jp2"}, "139": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 183\\nGeorge Webb, having found a friend who\\nlent him the necessary sum to buy out his\\ntime of Keimer, came one day to offer him-\\nself to us as a journeyman. We could not\\nemploy him immediately but I foolishly told\\nhim, under the rose, that I intended shortly\\nto publish a new periodical paper, and that\\nwe should then have work for him. My\\nhopes of success, which I imparted to him,\\nwere founded on the circumstance, that the\\nonly paper we had in Philadelphia at that\\ntime, and which Bradford printed, was a pal-\\ntry thing, miserably conducted, in no respect\\namusing, and which yet was profitable. I\\nconsequently supposed that a good work of\\nthis kind could not fail of success. Webb be-\\ntrayed my secret to Keimer, who, to prevent\\nme, immediately published the prospectus of\\na paper that he intended to institute himself,\\nand in which Webb was to be engaged.\\nI was exasperated at this proceeding, and,\\nwith a view to counteract them, not being\\nable at present to institute my own paper, I\\nwrote ome humorous pieces in Bradford s,\\nunder the title of the Busy Body;* and which\\nA manuscript note in the file of the American Mer-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0139.jp2"}, "140": {"fulltext": "134 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nwas continued for several months by Breint-\\nnal. I hereby fixed the attention of the pub-\\nlic upon Bradford s paper and the prospec-\\ntus of Keimer, which we turned into ridicule,\\nwas treated with contempt. He began, not-\\nwithstanding his paper and after continuing\\nit for nine months, having at most not more\\nthan ninety subscribers, he offered it me for\\na mere trifle. I had for some time been\\nready for such an engagement I therefore\\ninstantly took it upon myself, and in a few\\nyears it proved extremely profitable to me.\\nI perceive that I am apt to speak in the\\nfirst person, though our partnership still con-\\ntinued. It is, perhaps, because, in fact, the\\nwhole business devolved upon me. Meredith\\nwas no compositor, and but an indifferent\\npressman and it was rarely that he ab-\\nstained from hard drinking. My friends\\nwere sorry to see me connected with him\\nbut I contrived to derive from it the utmost\\nadvantage the case admitted.\\nOur first number produced no other effect\\ncury, preserved in the Philadelphia library, says thtU\\nFranklin wrote the five first numbers, and irt of thf\\neighth.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0140.jp2"}, "141": {"fulltext": "Lliu: or DR. FRANKLIN. lo5\\nthan any other paper which had appeared in\\nthe province, as to type and printing but\\nsome remarks, in my peculiar style of writ-\\ning, upon the dispute which then prevailed\\nbetween Governor Burnet and the Massachu-\\nsetts Assembly, struck some persons as above\\nmediocrity, caused the paper and its editors\\nto be talked of, and in a few weeks induced\\nthem to become our subscribers. Many oth-\\ners followed their example and our subscrip-\\ntion continued to increase. This was one of\\nthe first good effects of the pains I had taken\\nto learn to put my ideas on paper. I de-\\nrived this farther advantage from it, that the\\nleading men of the place, seeing in the author\\nof this publication a man so w^ell able to use\\nhis pen, thought it right to patronize and en-\\ncourage me.\\nThe votes, laws, and other public pieces\\nwere printed by Bradford. An address of\\nthe House of Assembly to the governor had\\nbeen executed by him in a very coarse and\\nincorrect manner. We reprinted it with ac-\\ncuracy and neatness, and sent a copy to every\\nmember. They perceived the difference, and\\nit so strengthened the influence of our friends", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0141.jp2"}, "142": {"fulltext": "136 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nin the Assembly, that we were nominated its\\nprinter for the following year.\\nAmong these friends I ought not to forget\\none member in particular, Mr. Hamilton,\\nwhom I have mentioned in a former part of\\nmy narrative, and who was now returned\\nfrom England. He warmly interested him-\\nself for me on this occasion, as he did like-\\nwise on many others afterwards having con-\\ntinued this kindness to me till his death.\\nAbout this period Mr. Vernon reminded\\nme of the debt I owed him, but without press-\\ning me for payment. I wrote a handsome\\nletter on the occasion, begging him to wait a\\nlittle longer, to which he consented and as\\nsoon as I was able I paid him principal and\\ninterest, with many expressions of gratitude\\nso that this error of my life was in a manner\\natoned for.\\nBut another trouble now happened to me,\\nwhich I had not the smallest reason to ex-\\npect. Meredith s father, who, according to\\nour agreement, was to defray the whole ex-\\npense of our printing materials, had only paid\\na hundred pounds. Another hundred was\\nstill due, and the merchant being tired of", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0142.jp2"}, "143": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 137\\nwaiting, commenced a suit against us. We\\nbailed the action, but with the melancholy\\nprospect, that, if the money was not forth-\\ncoming at the time fixed, the affair would\\ncome to issue, judgment be put in execution,\\nour delightful hopes be annihilated, and our-\\nselves entirely ruined as the type and press\\nmust be sold, perhaps at half their value, to\\npay the debt.\\nIn this distress, two real friends, whose\\ngenerous conduct I have never forgotten, and\\nnever shall forget while I retain the remem-\\nbrance of any thing, came to me separately\\nwithout the knowledge of each other, and\\nwithout my having applied to either of them.\\nEach offered whatever money might be ne-\\ncessary to take the business into my own\\nhands, if the thing was practicable, as they\\ndid not like I should continue in partnership\\nwith Meredith, who, they said, was frequently\\nseen drunk in the streets, and gambling at\\nalehouses, which very much injured our\\ncredit. These friends were William Coleman\\nand Robert Grace. I told them, that while\\nthere remained any probability that the Mer-\\nediths would fulfil their part of the compact,\\n10 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0143.jp2"}, "144": {"fulltext": "138 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nI could not propose a separation, as I con-\\nceived myself to be under obligations to them\\nfor what they had done already, and were\\nstill disposed to do, if they had the power\\nbut, in the end, should they fail in their en-\\ngagement, and our partnership be dissolved,\\nI should then think myself at liberty to ac-\\ncept the kindness of my friends.\\nThings remained for some time in this\\nstate. At last, I said one day to my partner,\\nYour father is perhaps dissatisfied with your\\nhaving a share only in the business, and is\\nunwilling to do for two, what he would do for\\nyou alone. Tell me frankly if that be the\\ncase, and I will resign the whole to you, and\\ndo for myself as well as I can. No, (said\\nhe,) my father has really been disappointed\\nin his hopes he is not able to pay, and I wish\\nto put him to no farther inconvenience. I\\nsee that I am not at all calculated for a\\nprinter I was educated as a farmer, and it\\nwas absurd in me to come here, at thirty\\nyears of age, and bind myself apprentice to\\na new trade. Many of my countrymen are\\ngoing to settle in North Carolina, where the\\nsoil is exceedingly favorable. I am tempted", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0144.jp2"}, "145": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 189\\nto go with them, and to resume my former\\noccupation. You will doubtless find friends\\nwho will assist you. If you will take upon\\nyourself the debts of the partnership, return\\nmy father the hundred pounds he has ad-\\nvanced, pay my little personal debts, and\\ngive me thirty pounds and a new saddle, I\\nwill renounce the partnership, and consign\\nover the whole stock to you.\\nI accepted this proposal without hesitation.\\nIt was committed to paper, and signed and\\nsealed without delay. I gave him what he\\ndemanded, and he departed soon after, for\\nCarolina, from whence he sent me, in the\\nfollowing year, two long letters, containing\\nthe best accounts that had yet been given of\\nthat country, as to climate, soil, agriculture,\\nic, for he was well versed in these matters.\\nI published them in my newspaper, and they\\nwere received with great satisfaction.\\nAs soon as he was gone, I applied to my\\ntwo friends, and not wishing to give a dis-\\nobliging peference to either of them, I ac-\\ncepted from each half what he had ofi*ered\\nme, and which it was necessary I should\\nhave. X paid the partnership debts, and con-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0145.jp2"}, "146": {"fulltext": "140 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\ntinned the business on my own account\\ntaking care to inform the public, by adver-\\ntisement, of the partnership being dissolved.\\nThis was, I think, in the year 1729, or there-\\nabout.\\nNearly at the same peHod, the people de-\\nmanded a new emission of paper money the\\nexisting and only one that had taken place\\nin the province, and which amounted to fifteen\\nthousand pounds, being soon to expire. The\\nwealthy inhabitants, prejudiced against every\\nsort of paper currency, from the fear of its\\ndepreciation, of which there had been an in-\\nstance in the province of New England, to\\nthe injury of its holders, strongly opposed\\nthis measure. We had discussed this affair\\nin our Junto, in which I was on the side of\\nthe new emission convinced that the first\\nBmall sum, fabricated in 1723, had done much\\ngood in the province, by favoring commerce,\\nindustry, and population, since all the houses\\nwere now inhabited, and many others build-\\ning whereas I remember to have seen, when\\nI first paraded the streets of Philadelphia,\\neating my roll, the majority of those in Wal-\\nnut Street, Second Street, fourth Street, bb", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0146.jp2"}, "147": {"fulltext": "LirE OF DR. iTKANKLIxN. 141\\nwell as a great number in Chestnut, and\\nother streets, with papers on them signifying\\nthat they were to be let; which made me\\nthink at the time that the inhabitants of the\\ntown were deserting it one after another.\\nOur debates made me so fully master of\\nthe subject, that I wrote and published an\\nanonymous pamphlet, entitled, An Inquiry\\ninto the Nature and Necessity of Paper Cur-\\nrency. It was very well received by the\\nlower and middling classes of people but it\\ndispleased the opulent, as it increased the\\nclamor in favor of the new emission. Hav-\\ning, however, no writer among them capable\\nof answering it, their opposition became less\\nviolent and there being in the House of\\nAssembly a majority for the measure, it\\npassed. The friends I had acquired in the\\nHouse, persuaded that I had done the country\\nessential service on this occasion, rewarded\\nme by giving me the printing of the bills.\\nIt was a lucrative employment, and proved a\\nvery seasonable help to me another advan-\\ntage which I derived from having habituated\\nmyself to write.\\nTime and experience so fully demonstrated", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0147.jp2"}, "148": {"fulltext": "142 I.TFE OF PR. FRA.NKLIN.\\nthe utility of paper currency, that it never\\nafter experienced any considerable opposi-\\ntion so that it soon amounted to 55,000Z.\\nand in the year 1739 to 80,000Z. It has\\nsince risen, during the last war, to 350,000Z.\\ntrade, buildings, and population having in\\nthe interval continually increased but I am\\nnow convinced that there are limits beyond\\nwhich paper money would be prejudicial.\\nI soon after obtained, by the influence of\\nmy friend Hamilton, the printing of the New-\\ncastle paper money, another profitable work,\\nas I then thought it, little things appearing\\ngreat to persons of moderate fortune and\\nthey were really great to me, as proving\\ngreat encouragements. He also procured me\\nthe printing of the laws and votes of that\\ngovernment, which I retained as long as I\\ncontinued in the business.\\nI now opened a small stationer s shop. I\\nkept bonds and agreements of all kinds,\\ndrawn up in a more accurate form than had\\nyet been seen in that part of the world a\\nwork in which I was assisted by my friend\\nBreintnal. I had also paper, parchment,\\npasteboard, books, kc^ One Whitemarsh, an", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0148.jp2"}, "149": {"fulltext": "LffE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 1 13\\nexcellent compositor, whom I had known in\\nLondon, came to offer himself: I engaged\\nhim and he continued constantly and dili-\\ngently to work with me. I also took an ap-\\nprentice, the son of Acquila Rose.\\nI began to pay, by degrees, the debt I had\\ncontracted and in order to ensure my credit\\nand character as a tradesman, I took care\\nnot only to be really industrious and frugal,\\nbut also to avoid every appearance of the\\ncontrary. I was plainly dressed, and never\\nseen in any place of public amusement. I\\nnever went a fishing or hunting. A book\\nindeed enticed me sometimes from my work,\\nbut it was seldom, by stealth, and occasioned\\nno scandal and to show that I did not think\\nmyself above my profession, I conveyed home,\\nsometimes in a wheelbarrow, the paper I had\\npurchased at the warehouses.\\nI thus obtained the reputation of being an\\nindustrious young man, and very punctual in\\nhis payments. The merchants who imported\\narticles of stationary solicited my custom;\\nothers offered to furnish me with books, and\\nmy little trade went on prosperously.\\nMeanwhile the credit and business of", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0149.jp2"}, "150": {"fulltext": "144 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nKeimer diminishing every day, he was at\\nlast forced to sell his stock to satisfy hi^\\ncreditors and he betook himself to Barba-\\ndoes, where he lived for some time in a very\\nimpoverished state. His apprentice, David\\nHarry, whom I had instructed while I worked\\nwith Keimer, having bought his materials,\\nsucceeded him in the business. I was appre-\\nhensive, at first, of finding in Harry a pow-\\nerful competitor, as he was allied to an opu-\\nlent and respectable family I therefore pro-\\nposed a partnership which, happily for me,\\nhe rejected with disdain. He was extremely\\nproud, thought himself a fine gentleman,\\nlived extravagantly, and pursued amusements\\nwhich sufi*ered him to be scarcely ever at\\nhome of consequence he became in debt,\\nneglected his business, and business neglected\\nhim. Finding in a short time nothing to do\\nin the country, he followed Keimer to Bar-\\nbadoes, carrying his printing materials with\\nhim. There the apprentice employed his old\\nmaster as a journeyman. They were contin*\\naally quarreling and Harry, still getting in\\ndebt, was obliged at last to sell his press and\\ntypes and return to his old occupation of", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0150.jp2"}, "151": {"fulltext": "tlFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 145\\nhusbandly in Pennsylvania. The person who\\npurchased them employed Keimer to manage\\nthe business, but he died a few years after.\\nI had now at Philadelphia no competitor\\nbut Bradford, who, being in easy circum-\\nstances, did not engage in the printing of\\nbooks, except now and then as workmen\\nchanced to offer themselves; and was not anx-\\nious to extend his trade. He had, however,\\none advantage over me, as he had the direc-\\ntion of the post-office, and was of consequence\\nsupposed to have better opportunities of ob-\\ntaining news. His paper was also supposed to\\nbe more advantageous to advertising custom-\\ners and in consequence of that supposition,\\nhis advertisements were much more numerous\\nthan mine this was a source of great profit\\nto him, and disadvantageous to me. It was\\nto no purpose that I really procured other\\npapers and distributed my own, by means of\\nthe post; and the public took for granted\\nmy inability in this respect and I was in-\\ndeed unable to conquer it in any other mode\\nthan by bribing the postboys, who served me\\nonly by stealth, Bradford being so illiberal as\\nto forbid them. This treatment of his ex-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0151.jp2"}, "152": {"fulltext": "146 IJFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\ncited my resentment and my disgust was so\\nrooted that, when I afterwards succeeded\\nhim in the post-office, I took care to avoid\\ncopying his example.\\nI had hitherto continued to board with\\nGodfrey, who, with his wife and children,\\noccupied part of my house, and half of the\\nshop for his business at which indeed he\\nworked very little, being always absorbed by\\nmathematics. Mrs. Godfrey formed a wish\\nof marrying me to the daughter of one of her\\nrelations. She contrived various opportuni-\\nties of bringing us together, till she saw that\\nI was captivated which was not difficult\\nthe lady in question possessing great personal\\nmerit. The parents encouraged my addresses,\\nby inviting me continually to supper, and\\nleaving us together, till at last it was time to\\ncome to an explanation. Mrs. Godfrey un-\\ndertook to negotiate our little treaty. I gave\\nher to understand, that I expected to receive\\nwith the young lady a sum of money that\\nwould enable me at least to discharge the re-\\nmainder of the debt for my printing materi-\\nals. It was then, I believe, not more than a\\nhundred pounds. She brought me for an-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0152.jp2"}, "153": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 147\\nswer, that they had no such sum at their dis-\\nposal/ I observed that it might easily be ob-\\ntained, by a mortgage on their house. The\\nreply to this was, after a few days interval,\\nthat they did not approve of the match that\\nthev had consulted Bradford, and found that\\nthe business of a printer was not lucrative\\nthat my letters would soon be worn out, and\\nmust be supplied by new ones that Keimer\\nand Harry had failed, and that probably, I\\nshould do so too. Accordingly they forbade\\nme the house, and the young lady was con-\\nfined. I know not if they had really changed\\ntheir minds, or if it was merely an artifice,\\nsupposing our afiections to be too far engaged\\nfor us to desist, and that we should contrive\\nto marry secretly, vhich would leave them at\\nliberty to give or not as they pleased. But,\\nsuspecting this motive, I never went again to\\ntheir house.\\nSome time after, Mrs. Godfrey informed\\nme that they were favorably disposed towards\\nme, and wished me to renew the acquaint\\nance but I declared a firm resolution nevei\\nto have any thing more to do with the family\\nTlie Godfreys expressed some resentment a", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0153.jp2"}, "154": {"fulltext": "148 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nthis and as we could no longer agree, they\\nchanged their residence, leaving me in pos-\\nsession of the whole house, I then resolved\\nto take no more lodgers. This aflfair having\\nturned my thoughts to marriage, I looked\\naround me, and made overtures of alliance in\\nother quarters; but I soon found that the\\nprofession of a printer, being generally looked\\nupon as a poor trade, I could expect no money\\nwith a wife, at least, if I wished her to pos-\\nsess any other charm. Meanwhile, that pas-\\nsion of youth, so difficult to govern, had often\\ndrawn me into intrigues with despicable w^o-\\nmen who fell in my way which were not un-\\naccompanied with expense and inconvenience,\\nbesides the perpetual risk of injuring my\\nhealth, and catching a disease which I\\ndreaded above all things. But I was fortu^\\nnate enough to escape this danger.\\nAs a neighbor and old acquaintance, I hacJ\\nkept up a friendly intimacy with the familj\\nof Miss Read. Her parents had retained an\\naJBfection for me from the time of my lodging\\nin their house. I was often invited thither\\nthev consulted me about their affairs, and I\\nhad been sometimes serviceable to them. I", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0154.jp2"}, "155": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 149\\nifas touched with the unhappy situation of\\n^beir daughter, who was almost always mel-\\nancholy, and continually seeking solitude. I\\nregarded my forgetfulness and inconstancy,\\nduring my abode in London, as the principal\\npart of her misfortune, though her mother\\nhad the candor to attribute the fault to her-\\nself, rather than to me, because, after having\\nprevented our marriage previously to my de-\\nparture, she had induced her to marry an-\\nother in my absence.\\nOur mutual affection revived; but there\\nexisted great obstacles to our union. Her\\nmarriage was considered, indeed, as not be-\\ning valid, the man having, it was said, a\\nformer wife, still living in England but of\\nthis it was difficult to obtain a proof at so\\ngreat a distance and though a report pre-\\nvailed of his being dead, yet we had no cer-\\ntainty of it and, supposing it to be true, he\\nhad left many debts, for the payment of\\nwhich his successor might be sued. We ven-\\ntured, nevertheless, in spite of all these diffi-\\nculties; and I married her on the 1st of\\nSeptember, 1730. None of the inconveni-\\n^ences we had feared happened to us. She", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0155.jp2"}, "156": {"fulltext": "150 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nproved to me a good and faithful companion,\\nand contributed essentially to the success of\\nmy shop. We prospered together, and it was\\nour mutual study to render each other happy.\\nThus I corrected, as well as I could, this\\ngreat error of my youth.\\nOur club was not at that time established\\nat a tavern. We held our meetings at the\\nhouse of Mr, Grace, who appropriated a room\\nto the purpose. Some member observed one\\nday that as our books were frequently quoted\\nin the course of our discussions, it would be\\nconvenient to have them collected in the room\\nin which we assembled, in order to be con-\\nsulted upon occasion, and that, by thus form-\\ning a common library of our individual col-\\nlections, each would have the advantage of\\nusing the books of all the other members,\\nwhich would nearly be the same as if he pos-\\nsessed them all himself. The idea was ap-\\nproved, and we accordingly brought such\\nbooks as we thought we could spare, which\\nwere placed at the end of the clubroom.\\nThey amounted not to so many as we ex-\\npected; and though we made considerable\\nuse of them, yet seme inconveniences resuU-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0156.jp2"}, "157": {"fulltext": "LIFE or DR. FRANKLIN. 15}\\ning, from want of care, it was agreed, after\\nabout a year, to discontinue the collection;\\nand each took away such books as belonged\\nto him.\\nIt was now that I first started the idea of\\nestablishing, by subscription, a public library.\\nI drew up the proposals, had them engrossed\\nin form by Brockden, the attorney, and my\\nproject succeeded, as will be seen in the se-\\nrj-j-jckj SIS 5|6 1\u00c2\u00bb (S ^F\\n[The life of Dr. Franklin, as written by\\nhimself, so far as has yet been communicated\\nto the world, breaks off in this place. We\\nunderstand that it was continued by him\\nsomewhat farther, and we hope that the re-\\nmainder will, at some future period, be com-\\nmunicated to the public. We have no hes-\\nitation in supposing that every reader will\\nfind himself greatly interested by the frank\\nsimplicity and the philosophical discernment\\nby which these pages are so eminently char-\\nacterized. We have therefore thought proper,\\nin order as much as possible to relieve his re-\\ngret, to subjoin the following continuation by\\none of the Doctor s intimate friends. It is", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0157.jp2"}, "158": {"fulltext": "152 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nextracted from an American periodical pub*\\nlication, and was written by the late Dr\\nStuber* of Philadelphia.]\\nThe promotion of literature had been little\\nattended to in Pennsylvania. Most of the\\ninhabitants were too much immersed in busi-\\nness to think of scientific pursuits and those\\nDr. Stuber was bom in Philadelphia, of German pa-\\nrents. He was sent, at an early age, to the university,\\nwhere his genius, diligence, and amiable temper soon\\nacquired him the particular notice and favor of those\\nunder whose immediate direction he was placed. After\\npassing through the common course of study, in a much\\nshorter time than usual, he left the university, at the age\\nof sixteen, with great reputation. Not long after, he en-\\ntered on the study of ph3\\\\sic and the zeal with which\\nhe pursued it, and the advances he made, gave his\\nfriends reason to form the most flattering prospects of\\nhis future eminence and usefulness in his profession. As\\nDr. Stuber s circumstances were very moderate, he did\\nnot think this pursuit well calculated to answer them.\\nHe therefore relinquished it, after he had obtained a de-\\ngree in the profession, and qualified himself to practise\\nwith credit and success and immediately entered on the\\nstudy of the law. While in pursuit of the last-mentioned\\nobject he was prevented, by a premature death, from\\nreaping the fruit of those talents with which he was en-\\ndowed, and of a youth spent in the ardent and success-\\nful pursuit of useful and elegant literature.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0158.jp2"}, "159": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 153\\nfew, whose inclinations led them to study,\\nfound it difficult to gratify them, from the\\nwant of libraries sufficiently large. In such\\ncircumstances, the establishment of a pub-\\nlic library was an important event. This\\nwas \u00c2\u00a3rst set on foot by Franklin, about the\\nyear 1731. Fifty persons subscribed forty\\nshillings each, and agreed to pay ten shillings\\nannually. The number increased and, in\\n1742, the company was incorporated by the\\nname of The Library Company of Phila-\\ndelphia. Several other companies were\\nformed in this city in imitation of it. Tl (-se\\nwere all at length united with the Libi ary\\nCompany of Philadelphia, which thus receiv-\\ned a considerable accession of books and\\nproperty. It now contains about eight thou-\\nsand volumes on all subjects, a philosophical\\napparatus, and a well chosen collection of\\nnatural and artificial curiosities. For its sup-\\nport the Company now possessed landed prop-\\nerty of considerable value. They have ln^- y\\nbuilt an elegant house in Fifth Street, in the\\nfront of which will be erected a marble statue\\nof their founder, Benjamin Franklin.\\nThis institution was greatly encouraged by", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0159.jp2"}, "160": {"fulltext": "IM LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nthe friends of literature in America and in\\nGreat Britain. The Penn family distinguish-\\ned themselves by their donations. Amongst\\nthe earliest friends of this institution must be\\nmentioned the late Peter Collinson, the friend\\nand companion of Dr. Franklin. He not\\nonly made considerable presents himself, and\\nobtained others from his friends, but volunta-\\nrily undertook to manage the business of the\\nCompany in London, recommending books,\\npurchasing and shipping them. His exten-\\nsive knowledge, and zeal for the promotion of\\nscience, enabled him to execute this import-\\nant trust with the greatest advantage. He\\ncontinued to perform these services for more\\nthan thirty years, and uniformly refused to ac-\\ncept of any compensation. During this time\\nhe communicated to the directors every in-\\nformation relative to improvements and discov-\\neries in the arts, agriculture, and philosophy.\\nThe beneficial influence of this iiistitution\\nwas soon evident. The terms of subscription\\nto it were so moderate that it was accessible\\nto every one. Its advantages were not con-\\nfined to the opulent. The citizens in the mid-\\ndle and lower walks of life were equally par-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0160.jp2"}, "161": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLl-N. lOD\\nmakers of them. Hence a degree of informa-\\ntion was extended amongst all classes of\\npeople. The example was soon followed.\\nLibraries were established in various places,\\nand they are now become very numerous in\\nthe United States, and particularly in Penn-\\nsylvania. It is to be hoped that they will be\\nstill more widely extended, and that informa-\\ntion will be every where increased. This\\nwill be the best security for maintaining our\\nliberties. A nation of well informed men,\\nwho have been taught to know and prize the\\nrights which God has given them, cannot be\\nenslaved. It is in the regions of ignorance\\nthat tyranny reigns. It flies before the light\\nof science. Let the citizens of America, then,\\nencourage institutions calculated to diffuse\\nknowledge amongst the people and amongst\\nthese public libraries are not the least im-\\nportant.\\nIn 1732, Franklin began to publish Poor\\nRlchard*s Almanac. This was remarkable\\nfor the numerous and valuable concise max-\\nims which it contained, all tending to exhort\\nto industry and frugality. It was continued\\nu Y many years. In the almanac for the last", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0161.jp2"}, "162": {"fulltext": "156 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nyear, all the maxims were collected in an ac\\ndress to the reader, entitled, The Way t\\nWealth.** This has been translated into va-\\nrious languages, and inserted in different\\npublications. It has also been printed on a\\nlarge sheet, and may be seen framed in many\\nhouses in this city. This address contains,\\nperhaps, the best practical system of economy\\nthat ever has appeared. It is written in a\\nmanner intelligible to every one, and which\\ncannot fail of convincing every reader of the\\njustice and propriety of the remarks and\\nadvice which it contains. The demand for\\nthis almanac was so great that ten thousand\\nhave been sold in one year which must be\\nconsidered as a very large number, especially\\nwhen we reflect, that this country was, at\\nthat time, but thinly peopled. It cannot be\\ndoubted that the salutary maxims contained\\nin these almanacs must have made a favora-\\nble impression upon many of the readers of\\nthem.\\nIt was not long before Franklin entered\\nupon his political career. In the year 1736,\\nhe was appointed clerk to the general as-\\nsembly of Pennsylvania and was re-elected", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0162.jp2"}, "163": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FEANBLUN. 157\\nby succeeding assemblies for several years,\\nuntil he was chosen a representative for the\\ncity of Philadelphia.\\nBradford was possessed of some advantages\\nover Franklin, by being post-master, thereby\\nhaving an opportunity of circulating his paper\\nmore extensively, and thus rendering it a\\nbetter vehicle for advertisements, c. Frank-\\nlin, in his turn, enjoyed these advantages, by\\nbeing appointed post-master of Philadelphia\\nin 1737. Bradford, while in office, had acted\\nungenerously towards Franklin, preventing\\nas much as possible the circulation of his\\npaper. He had now an opportunity of re-\\ntaliating but his nobleness of soul prevented\\nhim from making use of it.\\nThe police of Philadelphia had early ap-\\npointed watchmen, whose duty it was to\\nguard the citizens against the midnight rob-\\nber, and to give an immediate alarm in case\\nof fire. This duty is, perhaps, one of the\\nmost important that can be committed to\\nany set of men. The regulations, however,\\nwere not sufficiently strict, Franklin saw\\nthe dangers arising from this cause, and sug-\\ngested an alteration, so as to oblige the ^uar-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0163.jp2"}, "164": {"fulltext": "158 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\ndians of the night to be more watchful over\\nthe lives and property of the citizens. The\\npropriety of this was immediately perceived,\\nand a reform was effected.\\nThere is nothing more dangerous to grow-\\ning cities than fires. Other causes operate\\nslowly, and almost imperceptibly but these\\nin a moment render abortive the labors of\\nages. On this account there should be, in\\nall cities, ample provisions to prevent fires\\nfrom spreading. Franklin early saw the\\nnecessity of these and, about the year 1738,\\nformed the first fire company in this city.\\nThis example was soon followed by others\\nand there are now numerous fire companies\\nin the city and liberties. To these may be\\nattributed in a great degree the activity in\\nextinguishing fires, for which the citizens of\\nPhiladelphia are distinguished, and the in-\\nconsiderable damage which this city has sus-\\ntained from this cause. Some time after,\\nFranklin suggested the plan of an association\\nfor insuring houses from losses by fire, which\\nwas adopted and the association continues\\nto this day. The advantages experienced\\nfrom it have been great.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0164.jp2"}, "165": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 1:^^\\nFrom the first establishment of Pennsyl-\\nvama, a spirit of dispute appears to have\\nprevailed amongst its inhabitants. During\\nthe lifetime of William Penn, the constitu-\\ntion had been three times altered. After\\nthis period, the history of Pennsylvania is\\nlittle else than a recital of the quarrels be-\\ntween the proprietaries, or their governors,\\nand the Assembly. The proprietaries con-\\ntended for the right of exempting their lands\\nfrom taxes to which the Assembly would by\\nno means consent. This subject of dispute\\ninterfered in almost every question, and pre-\\nvented the most salutary laws from being\\nenacted. This at times subjected the people\\nto great inconveniences. In the year 1744,\\nduring a war between France and Great\\nBritain, some French and Indians had made\\ninroads upon the frontier inhabitants of the\\nprovince who were unprovided for such an\\nattack. It became necessary that the citi-\\nzens should arm for their defense. Governor\\nThomas recommended to the Assembly, who\\nwere then sitting, to pass a militia law. To\\nthis they would agree only upon condition\\nthat he should give his assent to certain laws,", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0165.jp2"}, "166": {"fulltext": "160 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nwhich appeared to them calculated to pro-\\nmote the interests of the people. As he\\nthought these laws would be injurious to the\\nproprietaries, he refused his assent to them\\nand the Assembly broke up without passing a\\nmilitia law. The situation of the province\\nwas at this time truly alarming exposed to\\nthe continual inroad of an enemy, destitute\\nof every means of defense. At this crisis\\nFranklin stepped forth, and proposed to a\\nmeeting of the citizens of Philadelphia, a\\nplan of a voluntary association for the de-\\nfense of the province. This was approved\\nof, and signed by twelve hundred persons im-\\nmediately. Copies were instantly circulated\\nthroughout the province and in a short time\\nthe number of signers amounted to ten thou-\\nsand. Franklin was chosen colonel of the\\nPhiladelphia regiment but he did not think\\nproper to accept of the honor.\\nPursuits of a different nature now occupied\\nthe greatest part of his attention for some\\nyears. He engaged in a course of electrical\\nexperiments, with all the ardor and thirst for\\ndiscovery which characterized the philoso-\\nphers of that day. Of all the branches of", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0166.jp2"}, "167": {"fulltext": "A common library of our collections. Page 150,\\nAutobiography of Benjaniiu Franklin.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0167.jp2"}, "168": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0168.jp2"}, "169": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 161\\nexperimental philosopliy, electricity had been\\nleast explored. The attractive power of am-\\nber is mentioned by Theophrastus and Pliny,\\nand from them by later naturalists. In the\\nyear 1600, Gilbert, an English physician,\\nenlarged considerably the catalogue of sub-\\nstances which have the property of attracting\\nlight bodies. Boyle, Otto Guericke, a burgo-\\nmaster of Magdeburg, celebrated as the in-\\nventer of the airpump, Dr. Wall, and Sir\\nIsaac Newton, added some facts. Guericke\\nfirst observed tlie repulsive power of electric-\\nity, and the light and noise produced by it.\\nIn 1709, Havresbec communicated some im-\\nportant observations and experiments to the\\nworld. For several years electricity was\\nentirely neglected, until Mr. Grey applied\\nhimself to it in 1728, with great assiduity.\\nHe and his friend Mr. Wheeler made a great\\nvariety of experiments; in which they de-\\nmonstrated, that electricity may be commu-\\nnicated from one body to another, even with-\\nout being in contact, and in this way may be\\nconducted to a great distance. Mr. Grey\\nafterwards found, that, by suspending rods of\\niron by silk or hair lines, and bringing an\\n11 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0169.jp2"}, "170": {"fulltext": "I LIFE OF DR. FEANKLIN.\\nexcited tube under them, sparks might be\\ndrawn, and a light perceived at the extrem-\\nities in the dark, M. du Faye, intendant of\\nthe French King s gardens, made a number\\nof experiments, which added not a little to\\nthe science. He made the discovery of two\\nkinds of electricity, which he called vitreoua\\nand resinous the former produced by vub\\nbing glass, the latter from excited sulphur,\\nsealingwax, c. But this idea he afterwards\\ngave up as erroneous. Between the years\\n1739 and 1742, Desauguliers made a number\\nof experiments, but added little of import-\\nance. He first used the terms conductors\\nJ and electrics per se. In 1742, several inge-\\nnious Germans engaged in this subject of\\nthese the principal were, Professor Boze, of\\nWittemberg, Professor Winkler, of Leipsic,\\nGordon, a Scotch Benedictine monk, pro-\\nfessor of philosophy at Erfurt, and Dr. Ludolf,\\nof Berlin. The result of their researches\\nastonished the philosophers of Europe. Their\\napparatus was large, and by means of it they\\nwere enabled to colkct large quantities of\\nthe electric fluid, and thus to produce phe-\\nnomena which had been hitherto unobserved.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0170.jp2"}, "171": {"fulltext": "UFB OP DB. FRANKLIN. 163\\nThey killed small birds, and set spirits on fire.\\nTheir experiments excited the curiosity of\\nother philosophers. CoUinson, about the year\\n1745, sent to the Library Company of Phila-\\ndelphia an account of these experiments, to-\\ngether with a tube, and directions how to use\\nit. Franklin, with some of his friends, im-\\nmediately engaged in a course of experi-\\nments the result of which is well known.\\nHe was enabled to make a number of import-\\nant discoveries, and to propose theories to ac-\\ncount for various phenomena, which have\\nbeen universally adopted, and which bid fair\\nto endure for ages. His observ^ations he com-\\nmunicated, in a series of letters, to his friend\\nCollinson the first of which is dated March\\n28, 1747. In these he shows the power of\\npoints in drawing and throwing off the elec-\\ntrical matter, which had hitherto escaped the\\nnotice of electricians. He also made the\\ngrand discovery of a plus and minus or of\\na positive and negative state of electricity.\\nWe give him the honor of this without hesi-\\ntation although the English have claimed it\\nfor their countryman. Dr. Watson. Watson s\\npaper is dated January 21, 1748 Franklin s,", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0171.jp2"}, "172": {"fulltext": "164 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nJuly 11, 1847, several months prior. Short-\\n\\\\j after, Franklin, from his principles of the\\nplus and minus state, explained in a satisfac-\\ntory manner, the phenomena of the Leyden\\nphial, first observed by Mr. Cuneus, or by\\nProfessor Muschenbroeck, of Leyden, which\\nhad much perplexed philosophers. He show-\\ned clearly, that the bottle, when charged,\\ncontained no more electricity than before, but\\nthat as much was taken from one side as was\\nthrown on the other and that, to discharge\\nit, nothing was necessary but to produce a\\ncommunication between the two sides, by\\nwhich the equilibrium might be restored, and\\nthat then no signs of electricity would re-\\nmain. He afterwards demonstrated, by ex-\\nperiments, that the electricity did not reside\\nin the coating, as had been supposed, but in\\nthe pores of the glass itself. After a phial\\nwas charged, he removed the coating, and\\nfound that upon applying a new coating the\\nshock might still be received. In the year\\n1749, he first suggested his idea of explain-\\ning the phenomena of thunder gusts, and of\\nthe aurora borcalis, upon electrical principles.\\nHe points out many particulars in which", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0172.jp2"}, "173": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 165\\nlightning and electricity agree; and he ad-\\nduces many facts, and reasonings from facts,\\nin support of his positions. In the same year\\nhe conceived the astonishingly bold and grand\\nidea of ascertaining the truth of his doctrine,\\nby actually drawing down the lightning, by\\nmeans of sharp pointed iron rods raised into\\nthe region of the clouds. Even in this un-\\ncertain state, his passion to be useful to man-\\nkind displays itself in a powerful m^rner.\\nAdmitting the identity of electricity aod li^-ht-\\nning, and knowing the power of points in re-\\npelling bodies charged with electricity, and\\nin conducting their fire silently and imper-\\nceptibly, he suggested the idea of securing\\nhouses, ships, c., from being damaged by\\nlightning, by erecting pointed rods, that\\nshould rise some feet above the most elevated\\npart, and descend some feet into the ground\\nor the water. The effect of these, he con-\\ncluded, would be either to prevent a stroke\\nby repelling the cloud beyond the striking\\ndistance, or by drawing off the electrical\\nfire which it contained or, if they could\\nnot not effect this, they would at least con-\\nduct the electric matter to the earth, without\\nany injury to the building.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0173.jp2"}, "174": {"fulltext": "166 LIFE OF DE. FRANKLIN.\\nIt was not until the summer of 1752, that\\nhe was enabled to complete his grand and\\nunparalleled discovery by experiment. The\\nplan which he had originally proposed, was,\\nto erect on some high tower, or other ele-\\nvated place, a sentry box, from which should\\nrise a pointed iron rod, insulated by being\\nfixed in a cake of resin. Electrified clouds\\npassing over this, would, he conceived, im-\\npart to it a portion of their electricity, which\\nwoald be rendered evident to the senses\\nby sparks being emitted, when a key, the\\nknuckle, or other conductor, was presented\\nto it. Philadelphia at this time ajfforded no\\nopportunity of trying an experiment of this\\nkind. While Franklin was waiting for the\\nerection of a spire, it occurred to him that he\\nmight have more ready access to the region\\nof clouds by means of a common kite. He\\nprepared one by fastening two cross sticks\\nto a silk handkerchief, which would not suf-\\nfer so much from the rain as paper. To\\nthe upright stick was afiixed an iron point,\\nthe string was, as usual, of hemp, except the\\nlower end, which was silk. Where the hempen\\nBtiing terminated, a key was fastened. With", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0174.jp2"}, "175": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 167\\nthis apparatus, on the appearance of a thun-\\nder gust approaching, he went out into the\\ncommons, accompanied by his son, to whom\\nalone he communicated his intentions, well\\nknowing the ridicule which, too generally for\\nthe interest of science, awaits unsuccessful\\nexperiments in philosophy. He placed him-\\nself under a shade, to avoid the rain his\\nkite was raised a thunder-cloud passed over\\nit no sign of electricity appeared. He al-\\nmost despaired of success, when, suddenly, he\\nobserved the loose fibres of his string to move\\ntowards an erect position. He now presented\\nhis knuckle to the key, and received a strong\\nspark. How exquisite must his sensations\\nhave been at this moment On this exper-\\niment depended the fate of his theory. If\\nhe succeeded, his name would rank hicth\\namong those who had improved science if\\nhe failed, he must inevitably be subjected to\\nthe derision of mankind, or, what is worse,\\ntheir pity, as a well meaning man, but a\\nweak, silly projector. The anxiety with which\\nhe looked for the result of his experiment\\nmay be easily conceived. Doubts and de-\\nspair had begun to prevail, when the fact was", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0175.jp2"}, "176": {"fulltext": "168 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nascertained in so clear a manner, that even\\nthe most incredulous could no longer with-\\nhold their assent. Repeated sparks were\\ndrawn from the key, a phial was charged, a\\nshock given, and all the experiments made\\nwhich are usually performed with electricity.\\nAbout a month before this period, some\\ningenious Frenchman had completed the dis-\\ncovery in the manner originally proposed by\\nDr. Franklin. The letters which he sent to\\nMr. Collinson, it is said, were refused a place\\nin the Transactions of the Royal Society of\\nLondon. However this may be, Collinson\\npublished them in a separate volume, under\\nthe title of New Experiments and Observa-\\ntions on Electricity made at Philadelphia, in\\nAmerica. They were read with avidity, and\\nsoon translated into different languages. A\\nverry incorrect French translation fell into\\nthe hands of the celebrated Buffon, who, not-\\nwithstanding the disadvantages under which\\nthe work labored, was much pleased with it,\\nand repeated the experiments with success.\\nHe prevailed on his friend, M. D*Alibard, to\\ngive his countrymen a more correct transla-\\ntion of the works of the American electrician.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0176.jp2"}, "177": {"fulltext": "LirE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 169\\nThis contributed much towards spreading a\\nknowledge of Franklin s principles in France.\\nThe king, Louis XV., hearing of these exper-\\niments, expressed a wish to be a spectator of\\nthem. A course of experiments was given at\\nthe seat of the Due D Ayen, at St. Germain,\\nby M. de Lor. The applauses which the king\\nbestowed upon Franklin excited in Buffon,\\nD Alibard, and De Lor, an earnest desire of\\nascertaining the truth of his theory of thun-\\nder gust. Buffon erected his apparatus ol\\nthe tower of Montbar, M. D Alibard at Ma-\\nry-la-ville, and De Lor at his house in the\\nEstrapade at Paris, some of the highest\\nground in that capital. D Alibard s ma-\\nchine first showed signs of electricity. On\\nthe 10th of May, 1752, a thunder-cloud\\npased over it, in the absence of M. D Ali-\\nbard, and a number of sparks were drawn\\nfrom it by Coiffier, a joiner, with whom D Al-\\nibard had left directions how to proceed, and\\nby M. Raulet, the prior of Mary-la- ville. An\\naccount of this experiment was given to the\\nRoyal Academy of Sciences, by M. D Ali-\\nbard, in a Memoir, dated May 13th, 1752.\\nOn the 18th of May, M. De Lor proved\\n12 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0177.jp2"}, "178": {"fulltext": "170 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nequally successful with the apparatus erected\\nat his own house. These philosophers soon\\nexcited those of other parts of Europe to re-\\npeat the experiment, amongst whom none\\nsignalized themselves more than Father Bec-\\ncaria, of Turin, to whose observations science\\nis much indebted. Even the cold regions of\\nRussia were penetrated by the ardor for dis-\\ncovery. Professor Richman bade fair to add\\nmuch to the stock of knowledge on this sub-\\nject, when an unfortunate flash from his con-\\nductor put a period to his existence. The\\nfriends of science will long remember with re-\\ngret the amiable martyr to electricity.\\nBy these experiments Franklin s theory\\nwas estabhshed in the most convincing man-\\nner. When the truth of it could no longer\\nbe doubted, envy and vanity endeavored to\\ndetract from its merit. That an American,\\nan inhabitant of the obscure city of Philadel-\\nphia, the name of which was hardly known,\\nshould be able to make discoveries, and to\\nframe theories, which had escaped the notice\\nof the enlightened philosophers of Europe,\\nwas too mortifying to be admitted. He must\\ncertainly have taken the idea from some one", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0178.jp2"}, "179": {"fulltext": "LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN. 171\\nelse. An American, a being of an inferior\\norder, make discoveries I Impossible. It\\nwas said, that the Abbe Nollet, 1748, had\\nsuggested the idea of the similarity of light-\\nning and electricity in his Legons de PJiy-\\nsique. It is true that the Abbe mentions the\\nidea, but he throws it out as a bare conjec-\\nture, and proposes no mode of ascertaining\\nthe truth of it. He himself acknowledges, that\\nFranklin first entertained the bold thought\\nof bringing lightning from the heavens, by\\nmeans of pointed rods fixed in the air. The\\nsimilarity of lightning and electricity is so\\nstrong, that we need not be surprised at no-\\ntice being taken of it, as soon as electrical\\nphenomena became familiar. We find it\\nmentioned by Dr. Wall and Mr. Gray, while\\nthe science was in its infancy. But the\\nhonor of forming a regular theory of thun-\\nder gusts, of suggesting a mode of determin-\\ning the truth of it by experiments, and of\\nputting these experiments in practice, and\\nthus establishing the theory, upon a firm\\nand solid basis, is incontestably due to\\nFranklin. D*Alibard, who made the first\\nexperiments in France, says, that he onlv", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0179.jp2"}, "180": {"fulltext": "172 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nfollowed the track which Franklin had point-\\ned out.\\nIt has been of late asserted, that the honor\\nof completing the experiment with the elec-\\ntrical kite does not belong to Franklin\\nSome late English paragraphs have attributed\\nit to some Frenchman, whose name they do\\nnot mention and the Abbe Bertholon rives\\nit to M. de Romas, assessor to the presideal\\nof Nirac the English paragraphs probably\\nrefer to the same person. But a very slight\\nattention will convince us of the injustice of\\nthis procedure; Dr. Franklin s experiment\\nwas made in June, 1752 and his letter giv-\\ning an account of it, is dated October 19,\\n1752. M. de Romas made his first attempt\\non the 14th of May, 1753, but was not success-\\nful until the 7th of June; a year after\\nFranklin had completed the discovery, and\\nwhen it was known to all the philosophers in\\nEurope.\\nBesides these great principles, Franklin s\\nletters on electricity contain a number of\\nfacts and hints, which have contributed great-\\nly towards reducing this branch of knowledge\\nto a science. His friend, Mr. Kinnersley^", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0180.jp2"}, "181": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN 173\\ncommunicated to him a discovery of the dif-\\nferent kinds of electricity, excited by rubbing\\nglass and sulphur. This, we have said, was\\nfirst observed by M. du Faye but it was for\\nmany years neglected. The philosophers\\nwere disposed to account for the phenomena,\\nrather from a difference in the quantity of elec-\\ntricity collected, and even Du Faye himself\\nseems at last to have adopted this doctrine.\\nFranklin at first entertained the same idea\\nbut, upon repeating the experiments, he per-\\nceived that Mr. Kinnersley was right and\\nthat the vitreous and resinous electricity of\\nDu Faye were nothing more than the -positive\\nand negative states which he had before ob-\\nserved and that the glass globe charged\\npositively J or increased the quantity of elec-\\ntricity on the prime conductor, while the\\nglobe of sulphur diminished its natural\\nquantity, or charged negatively. These ex-\\nperiments and observations opened a new\\nfield for investigation, upon which electri-\\ncians entered with avidity and their labors\\nh.ive added much to the stock of our knowl-\\nfuge.\\nIn September, 1752, Franklin entered upon", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0181.jp2"}, "182": {"fulltext": "174 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\na course of experiments, to determine the\\nstate of electricity in the clouds. From a\\nnumber of experiments he formed this con-\\nclusion That the clouds of a thunder\\ngust are most commonly in a negative state\\nof electricity, but sometimes in a positive\\nstate and from this it follows, as a necessary\\nconsequence, that for the most part, in thun-\\nder, strokes, it is the earth that strikes into\\nthe clouds, and not the clouds that strike into\\nthe earth/* The letter containing these ob-\\nservations is dated in September, 1753 and\\nyet the discovery of ascending thunder has\\nbeen said to be of a modern date, and has been\\nattributed to the Abbe Bertholon, who pub-\\nlished his memoir on the subject in 1776.\\nFranklin s letters have been translated into\\nmost of the European languages, and into\\nLatin. In proportion as they have become\\nknown, his principles have been adopted.\\nSome opposition was made to his theories,\\nparticularly by the Abb6 Nollet, who was,\\nhowever, but feebly supported, while the first\\nphilosophers in Europe stepped forth in de-\\nfense of Fr.anklin s principles, amongst whom\\nD Alibard and Beccaria were the most dia-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0182.jp2"}, "183": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 176\\ntinguished. The opposition has gradually\\nceased^ and the Franklinian system is now\\nuniversally adopted, where science flourishes.\\nThe important practical use which Frank-\\nlin made of his discoveries, the securing of\\nhouses from injury hy lightning, has been\\nalready mentioned. Pointed conductors are\\nnow very common in America but prejudice\\nhas hitherto prevented their general intro-\\nduction into Europe, notwithstanding the\\nmost undoubted proofs of their utility have\\nbeen given. But mankind can with difficulty\\nbe brought to lay aside established practices,\\nor to adopt new ones. And perhaps we have\\nmore reason to be surprised that a practice,\\nhowever rational, which was proposed about\\nforty years ago, should in that time have been\\nadopted in so many places, than that it has\\nnot universally prevailed. It is only by de-\\ngrees that the great body of mankind can be\\nled into new practices, however salutary their\\ntendency. It is now nearly eighty years\\nsince inoculation was introduced into Europe\\nand America and it is so far from being\\ngeneral at present, that it will require one or\\ntwo centuries to render it so.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0183.jp2"}, "184": {"fulltext": "176 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nIn the year 1745, Franklin published an\\naccount of his new invented Pennsylvania\\nfireplaces, in which he minutely and accu-\\nrately states the advantages of different kinds\\nof fireplaces and endeavors to show, that\\nthe one which he describes is to be preferred\\nto any other. This contrivance has given\\nrise to the open stoves now in general use,\\nwhich, however, differ from it in construction,\\nparticularly in not having an air-box at the\\nback, through which a constant supply of air,\\nwarmed in its passage, is thrown into the\\nroom. The advantages of this air, that as a\\nstream of warm air is continually flowing into\\nthe room, less fuel is necessary to preserve a\\nproper temperature, and the room may be so\\ntightened as that no air may enter through\\nthe cracks the consequence of which are\\ncolds, toothaches, :c.\\nAlthough philosophy was a principal ob-\\nject of Franklin s pursuit for several years,\\nhe confined himself not to this. In the year\\n1747, he became a member of the general\\nassembly of Pennsylvania, as a burgess for\\nthe city of Philadelphia. Warm disputes\\nsubsisted at this time between the Assembly", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0184.jp2"}, "185": {"fulltext": "LIFE Of DR. FRANKLIxN. 177\\nand the Proprietaries each contending for\\nwhat they conceived to be their just rights.\\nFranklin, a friend to the rights of man from\\nhis infancy, soon distinguished himself a\\nsteady opponent of the unjust schemes of the\\nproprietaries. He was soon looked up to as\\nthe head of the opposition and to him have\\nbeen attributed many of the spirited replies\\nof the Assembly to the messages of the gov-\\nernors. His influence in the body was very\\ngreat. This arose not from any superior\\npowers of eloquence he spoke but seldom,\\nand he never was known to make any thing\\nlike an elaborate harangue. His speeches\\noften consisted of a single sentence, of a well\\ntold story, the moral of which was obviously\\nto the point. He never attempted the flow-\\nery fields of oratory. His manner was plain\\nand mild. His style in speaking was, like\\nthat of his writings, simple, unadorned, and\\nremarkably concise. With this plain manner,\\nand his penetrating and solid judgment, he\\nwas able to confound the most eloquent and\\nsubtle of his adversaries, to confirm the opin-\\nions of his friends, and to make converts of\\nthe unprejudiced who had opposed him. With", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0185.jp2"}, "186": {"fulltext": "178 LIFE OF DR. FRANKIilN.\\na single observation, he has rendered of no\\navail an elegant and lengthy discourse, and de-\\ntermined the fate of a question of importance.\\nBut he was not contented with thus sup-\\nporting the rights of the people. He wished\\nto render them permanently secure, which\\ncan only be done by making their value prop-\\nerly known and this must depend upon in-\\ncreasing and extending information to every\\nclass of men. AVe have already seen that he\\nwas the founder of the public library, which\\ncontributed greatly towards improving the\\nminds of the citizens. But this was not suf-\\nficient. The schools then subsisting ^vere in\\ngeneral of little utility. The teachers were\\nmen ill qualified for the important duty which\\nthey had undertaken and, after all, nothing\\nmore could bo obtained than the rudiments\\nof a common English education. Franklin\\ndrew up a plan of an academy, to be erected\\nin the city of Philadelphia, suited to the\\nstate of an infant country; but in this, as\\nin all his plans, he confined not his views to\\nthe present time only. He looked forward\\nto the period when an institution on an en-\\nlarged plan would become necessary. With", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0186.jp2"}, "187": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR FRANKLIN. 179\\nthis view, he considered his academy as a\\nfoundation for posterity to erect a seminary\\nof learning more extensive, and suitable to\\nfuture circumstances. In pursuance of this\\nplan, the constitutions were drawn up and\\nsigned on the 13th of November, 1749. Ip\\nthese, twenty-four of the most respectable\\n;itizens of Philadelphia were named as trus-\\ntees. In the choice of these, and in the\\nformation of his plan, Franklin is said to\\nhave consulted chiefly with Thomas Hopkin-\\nson, Esq., the Rev. Richard Peters, then sec-\\nretary of the province, Tench Francis, Esq.,\\nattorney general, and Dr. Phineas Bond.\\nThe following article shows a spirit of be-\\nnevolence worthy of imitation and for the\\nhonor of our city, we hope that it continues\\nto be in force.\\nIn case of the disability of the rector^ or\\nany master (established on the foundation by\\nreceiving a certain salary) through sickness,\\nor any other natural infirmity, whereby he\\nmay be reduced to poverty, the trustees shall\\nhave power to contribute to his support, in\\nproportion to his distress and merit, and the\\nstock in their hands.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0187.jp2"}, "188": {"fulltext": "180 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nThe last clause of the fundamental rule ia\\nexpressed in language so tender and benev-\\nolent, so truly parental, that it will do ever-\\nlasting honor to the hearts and heads of the\\nfounders.\\nIt is hoped and expected that the trus-\\ntees will make it their pleasure, and in some\\ndegree their business, to visit the academy\\noften; to encourage and countenance the\\nyouth, to countenance and assist the masters,\\nand, by all means in their power, advance the\\nusefulness and reputation of the design that\\nthey will look on the students as, in some\\nmeasure, their own children, treat them with\\nfamiliarity and affection and, when they\\nhave behaved well, gone through their stud-\\nies and are to enter the world, they shall\\nzealously unite, and make all the interest\\nthat can be made to promote and establish\\nthem, whether in business, offices, marriages,\\nor any other thing for their advantage, in\\npreference to all other persons whatsoever,\\neven of equal merit.**\\nThe constitution being signed and made\\npublic, with the names of the gentlemen pro-\\nposing themselves as trustees and founders,", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0188.jp2"}, "189": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 18)\\nthe design was so well approved of by the\\npublic spirited citizens of Philadelphia, that\\nthe sum of eight hundred pounds per annum,\\nfor five years, was in the course of a few\\nweeks subscribed for carrying it into execu-\\ntion and in the beginning of January fol\\nlowing (viz. 1750) three of the schools were\\nopened, namely, the Latin and Greek schools,\\nthe Mathematical school, and the English\\nschool. In pursuance of an article in the\\noriginal plan, a school for educating sixty\\nboys and thirty girls (in the charter since\\ncalled the Charitable School) was opened;\\nand, amidst all the difficulties with which\\nthe trustees have struggled in respect to\\ntheir funds, has still been continued full\\nfor the space of forty years so that allow-\\ning three years education for each boy and\\ngirl admitted into it, which is the general\\nrule, at least twelve hundred children have\\nreceived in it the chief part of their educa-\\ntion, who might otherwise, in a great meas-\\nure, have been left without the means of in-\\nstruction. And many of those who have\\nbeen thus educated, are now to be found", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0189.jp2"}, "190": {"fulltext": "182 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\namong the most useful and reputable citizens\\nof this state.\\nThis institution, thus successfully begun,\\ncontinued daily to flourish, to the great sat-\\nisfaction of Dr. Franklin who, notwithstand-\\ning the multiplicity of his other engagements\\nand pursuits, at that busy stage of his life,\\nwas a constant attendant at the monthly vis-\\nitations and examinations of the schools, and\\nmade it his particular study, by means of hi\\nextensive correspondence abroad, to advance\\nthe reputation of the seminary, and to draw\\nstudents and scholars to it from dififerent\\nparts of America and the West Indies.\\nThrough the interposition of his benevolent\\nand learned friend, Peter Collinson, of Lon^\\ndon, upon the application of the trustees, a\\ncharter of incorporation, dated July 18j 1753,\\nwas obtained from the honorable proprietors\\nof Pennsylvania, Thomas Penn and Richard\\nPenn, Esqrs., accompanied with a liberal ben-\\nefaction of five hundred pounds sterling and\\nDr. Franklin now began in good earnest to\\nplease himself with the hopes of a speedy ac-\\ncomplishment of his original design, viz., the", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0190.jp2"}, "191": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 18\u00c2\u00a3\\nestablishment of a perfect institution, upon\\nthe plan of the European colleges and uni-\\nversities for which his academy was in-\\ntended as a nursery or foundation. To elu-\\ncidate this fact, is a matter of considerablt\\nimportance in respect to the memory and\\ncharacter of Dr. Franklin as a philosopher^\\nand as the friend and patron of learning and\\nscience; for, notwithstanding what is ex-\\npressly declared by him in the preamble t(\\nthe constitutions, viz., that the academy wa\u00c2\u00bb\\nbegun for teaching the Latin and Greek\\nlanguages, with all useful branches of the\\narts and sciences, suitable to the state of an\\ninfant country, and laying a foundation for\\nposterity to erect a seminary of learning\\nmore extensive, and suitable to their future\\ncircumstances yet it has been suggested\\nof late, as upon Dr. Franklin a authority, that\\nthe Latin and Greek, or the dead languages,\\nare an incumbrance upon a scheme of liberal\\neducation, and that the engrafting or found-\\ning a college, or more extensive seminary,\\nupon his academy, was without his approba-\\ntion or agency, and gave him discontent. If\\nthe reverse of this does not already appeyr", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0191.jp2"}, "192": {"fulltext": "184 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nfrom what has been quoted above, the follow-\\ning letters will put the matter beyond dis-\\npute. They were written by him to a gen-\\ntleman, who had at that time published the\\nidea of a college, suited to the circumstances\\nof a young country (meaning New York), a\\ncopy of which haying been sent to Dr. Frank-\\nlin for his opinion, gave rise to that corres-\\npondence which terminated, about a year af-\\nterwards, in erecting the college upon the\\nfoundation of the academy, and establishing\\nthat gentleman at the head of both, where he\\nstill continues, after a period of thirty-six\\nyears, to preside with distinguished reputa-\\ntion.\\nFrom these letters also, the state of the\\nacademy, at that time, will be seen.\\nPhiladelphia, April 19, 1753.\\nSir,\\nI received your favor of the 11th instant,\\nwith your new* niece on Education^ which I\\nshall carefully peruse, and give you my sen-\\ntiments of it, as you desire, by next post.\\nA general idea of the college of Mirania.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0192.jp2"}, "193": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DB. FRANKLIN. 185\\nI believe the young gentlemen, your pu-\\npils, may be entertained and instructed here,\\nin mathematics and philosophy, to satisfac-\\ntion. Mr. Alison* (who was educated at\\nGlasgow) has been long accustomed to teach\\nthe latter, and Mr. Grewf the former; and\\nI think their pupils make great progress.\\nMr. Alison has the care of the Latin and\\nGreek school, but as he has now three good\\nassistantSjJ he can very well afford some\\nhours every day for the instruction of those\\nwho are engaged in higher studies. The\\nmathematical school is pretty well furnisiied\\nwith instruments. The English library is a\\ngood one; and we have belonging to it a\\nmiddling apparatus for experimental philos-\\nophy, and propose speedily to complete it.\\nThe Loganian library, one of the best collec-\\ntions in America, will shortly be opened so\\nthat neither books nor instruments will be\\nThe Rev. and learned Mr. Francis Alison, after-\\nwards D. D^, and vice-provost of the college.\\nf Mr. Theophilus Grew, afterwards professor of math-\\nematics in the college.\\nX Those assistants were at that time, Mr. Charles\\nThompson, late secretary of congress, Mr. Paul Jackson,\\nand Mr. Jacob Duche.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0193.jp2"}, "194": {"fulltext": "186 LIFE or D ERANKLirs.\\nwanting and as we are determined always\\nto give good salaries, we have reason to be-\\nlieve we may have always an opportunity of\\nchoosing good masters upon which, indeed,\\nthe success of the whole depends. We are\\nobliged to you for your kind offers in this re-\\nspect, and when you are settled in England,\\nwe may occasionally make use of your friend-\\nship and judgment.\\nIf it suits your convenience to visit Phil-\\nadelphia before you return to Europe, I shall\\nbe extremely glad to see and converse with\\nyou here, as well as to correspond with you\\nafter your settlement in England for an ac-\\nquaintance and communication with men of\\nlearning, virtue, and public spirit, is one of\\nmy greatest enjoyments.\\nI do not know whether you ever hap-\\npened to see the first proposals T inade for\\nerecting this academy. I send rhem en-\\nclosed. They had (however imperfect) the\\ndesired success, being followed by a sub-\\nscription of four thousand pounds, towards\\ncarrying them into execution. And as we\\nare fond of receiving advice, and are daily\\nimproving by experience, I am in hopes", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0194.jp2"}, "195": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 187\\nwe shall, in a few years, see a perfect insti-\\ntution.\\nI am, very respectfully, c.\\nB.FRANKLIN.\\nMr. W. Smith, Long Island,\\nPhiladelphia, May 3, 1753.\\nSir,\\nMr. Peters has just now been with me,\\nand we have compared notes on your new\\npiece. We find nothing in the scheme of ed-\\nucation, however excellent, but what is, in\\nour opinion, very practicable. The great\\ndifficulty will be to find the Aratus,* and\\nother suitable persons, to carry it into ex-\\necution; but such may be had if proper\\nencouragement be given. We have both re-\\nceived great pleasure in the perusal of it.\\nFor my part, I know not when I have read\\na piece that has more afi ected me so noble\\nand just are the sentiments, so warm and an-\\nThe name given to the principal or head of the ideal\\ncollege, the system of education in which hath neverthe-\\nless been nearly realized, or followed as a model, in the\\ncollege and academy of Philadelphia, and some other\\nAmerican seminaries, for many years past.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0195.jp2"}, "196": {"fulltext": "L88 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nimated the language; yet as censure from\\nyour friends may be of more use, as well as\\nmore agreeable to you than praise, I ought to\\nmention, that I wish you had omitted not only\\nthe quotation from the review,* which you\\nare now justly dissatisfied with, but those ex-\\npressions of resentment against your adver-\\nsaries, in pages 65 and 79. In such cases,\\nthe noblest victory is obtained by neglect,\\nand by shining on.\\nMr. Allen has been out of town these\\nten days but before he went he directed me\\nto procure him six copies of your piece. Mr.\\nPeters has taken ten. He proposed to have\\nwritten to you but omits it, as he expects so\\nsoon to have the pleasure of seeing you here.\\nHe desires me to present his affectionate\\ncompliments to you, and to assure you, that\\nyou will be very welcome to him. I shall\\nonly say, that you may depend on my doing\\nall in my power to make your visit to Phila-\\ndelphia agreeable to you.\\nI am, c.,\\nMr. Smith. B. FRANKLIN.\\nThe quotation alluded to (from the London Monthly", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0196.jp2"}, "197": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 189\\nPhiladelphia, Nov. 21 1753.\\nDear Sir,\\nHaving written you fully, via Bristol, I\\nhave now little to add. Matters relating to\\nthe academy remain in Btatu quo. The trus-\\ntees would be glad to see a rector established\\nthere, but they dread entering into new en-\\ngagements till they are got out of debt and\\nI have not yet got them wholly over to my\\nopinion, that a good professor, or teacher of\\nt!ie higher branches of learning, would draw\\nso many scholars as to pay great part, if not\\nthe whole, of his salary. Thus, unless the\\nproprietors (of the province) shall think fit to\\nput the finishing hand to our institution, it\\nmust, I fear, wait some few years longer be-\\nfore it can arrive at that state of perfection,\\nwhich to me it seems now capable of; and all\\nthe pleasure I promised myself in seeing you\\nsettled among us, vanishes into smoke.\\nBut good Mr. Collinson writes me word,\\nthat no endeavors of his shall be wanting\\nand he hopes with the archbishop s assistance,\\nReview for 1749,) was judged to reflect too severely ou\\nthe discipline and government of the English universities\\nof Oxford and Cambridge, and was expunged from the\\nfollowing editions of this work.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0197.jp2"}, "198": {"fulltext": "190 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nto be able to prevail with our proprietors.*\\nI pray God grant them success..\\nMy son presents his affectionate regards,\\nwith\\nDear Sir, yours, c.,\\nB. FRANKLIN.\\nP. S. I have not been favored with a\\nline from you since your arrival in England/*\\nPhiladelphia J April 18, 1754.\\nDear Sir,\\nI have had but one letter from you since\\nyour arrival in England, which was but a\\nshort one, via Boston, dated October 18th,\\nacquainting me that yoti had written largely\\nby Captain Davis. Davis was lost, and with\\nhim your letters, to my great disappointment.\\nMesnard and Gibbon have since arrived here,\\nand I hear nothing from you. My comfort\\nis, an imagination that you only omit writing\\nbecause you are coming, and propose to tell\\nUpon the application of Archbishop Herring and P.\\nCollinson, Esq., at Dr. Franklin s request (aided by the\\nletters of Mr. Allen and Mr. Peters,) the Hon. Thomas\\nPenn, Esq., subscribed an annual sum, and afterward 3\\ngave at least 5,000^. to the founding or engrafting: the\\ncollege upon the academy.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0198.jp2"}, "199": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 191\\nme every thing viva voce. So not knowing\\nwhether this letter will reach you, and hoping\\neither to see or hear from you by the Myr-\\ntilla, Captain Budden s ship, which is daily\\nexpected, I only add, that I am, with great\\nesteem and affection,\\nYours, c.\\nMr, Smith. B. FRANKLIN.\\nAbout a month after the date of this last\\nletter, the gentleman to whom it was ad\\ndressed arrived in Philadelphia, and was im-\\nmediately placed at the head of the seminary\\nwhereby Dr. Franklin and the other trustees\\nwere enabled to proHccute their plan, for per-\\nfecting the institution, and opening the col-\\nlege upon the large and liberal foundation on\\nwhich it now stands for which purpose they\\nobtained their additional charter, dated May\\n27th, 1755.\\nThus far we thought it proper to exhibit in\\none view Dr. Franklin s services in the foun-\\ndation and establishment of this seminary.\\nHe soon afterwards embarked for England, in\\nthe public service of his country a d having", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0199.jp2"}, "200": {"fulltext": "192 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nbeen generally employed abroad, in the like\\nservice, for the greatest part of the remainder\\nof his life (as will appear in our subsequent\\naccount of the same) he had but few opportu-\\nnities of taking any further active part in the\\naflFairs of the seminary, until his final return\\nin the year 1785, when he found its charters\\nviolated, and his ancient colleagues, the origi-\\nnal founders, deprived of their trust, by an\\nact of the legislature and although his own\\nname had been inserted amongst the new\\ntrustees, yet he declined to take his seat\\namong them, or any concern in the manage-\\nment of their affairs, till the institution was\\nrestored by law to its original owners. He\\nthen assembled his old colleagues at his own\\nhouse, and being chosen their president, all\\ntheir future meetings were, at his request,\\nheld there, till within a few months of his\\ndeath, when with reluctance, and at their de-\\nsire, lest he might be too much injured by his\\nattention to their business, he suffered them\\nto meet at the college.\\nFranklin not only gave birth to many use-\\nful institutions himself, but he was also in-\\nstruQiental in promoting those which had", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0200.jp2"}, "201": {"fulltext": "LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN. 193\\noriofinated with other men. About the year\\n1752, an eminent physician of this city, Dr.\\nBond, considering the deplorable state of the\\npoor, when visited with disease, conceived the\\nidea of establishing an hospital. Notwith-\\nstanding very great exertions on his part, he\\nwas able to interest few people so far in\\nhis benevolent plan, as to obtain subscriptions\\nfrom them. Unwilling that his scheme should\\nprove abortive, he sought the aid of Frank-\\nlin, who readily engaged in the business, both\\nby using his influence with his friends, and by\\nstating the advantageous influence of the pro-\\nposed institution in his paper. These efforts\\nwere attended with success. Consid2rable\\nsums were subscribed but they were still\\nshort of what was necessary. FrankUn now\\nmade another exertion. He applied to the\\nAssembly; and, after some opposition, ob-\\ntained leave to bring in a bill, specifying,\\nthat as soon as two thousand pounds were\\nsubscribed, the same sum should be drawn\\nfrom the treasury by the speaker s warrant, to\\nbe applied to the purposes of the institution.\\nThe opposition, as the sum was granted upon\\ny contingency, wnich they supposed would\\n13 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0201.jp2"}, "202": {"fulltext": "194 LIFE OF DE. fUANKLiV\\nnever take place, were silent, and the bill\\npassed. The friends of the plan now re-\\ndoubled their efforts, to obtain subscriptions to\\nthe amount stated in the bill, and were soon\\nsuccessful. This was the foundation of the\\nPennsylvania Hospital, which with the Bet-\\ntering House and Dispensary, bears ample\\ntestimony of the humanity of the citizens of\\nPhiladelphia.\\nDr. Franklin had conducted himself so well\\nin the office of postmaster, and had shown\\nhimself to be so well acquainted with the busi-\\nness of that department, that it was thought\\nexpedient to raise him to a more dignified\\nstation. In 1753 he was appointed deputy\\npostmaster general for the British colonies.\\nThe profits arising from the postage of let-\\nters formed no inconsiderable part of the rev-\\nenue, which the crown of Great Britain de-\\nrived from these colonies. In the hands of\\nFranklin, it is said, that the post-office in\\nAmerica yielded annually thrice as much as\\nthat of Ireland.\\nThe American colonies were much exposed\\nto depredations on their frontiers by the In-\\ndians; and, more particuhirly, whenever a", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0202.jp2"}, "203": {"fulltext": "LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN. 195\\nwar took place between France and England.\\nThe colonies, individually, were either too\\nweak to take efficient measures for their own\\ndefense, or they were unwilling to take upon\\nthemselves the whole burden of erecting forts\\nand maintaining garrisons, whilst their neigh-\\nbors, who partook equally with themselves of\\nthe advantages, contributed nothing to the\\nexpense. Sometimes also the disputes, which\\nsubsisted between the governors and assem-\\nblies, prevented the adoption of means of de-\\nfense as we have seen was the case in Penn-\\nsylvania in 1745. To devise a plan of union\\nbetween the colonies, to regulate this and\\nother matters, appeared a desirable object.\\nTo accomplish this, in the year 1754, com-\\nmissioners from New Hampshire, Massachu-\\nsetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsyl-\\nvania, and Maryland, met at Albany. Dr.\\nFranklin attended here, as a ci^mmissioner\\nfrom Pennsylvania, and produced a plan,\\nwhich, from the place of meeting, has been\\nusually termed, The Albany Plan of Union.\\nThis proposed, that application should be\\nmade for an act of parliament, to establish in\\nthe colonies a general government, to be ad-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0203.jp2"}, "204": {"fulltext": "196 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nministered by a president general, appointed\\nby the crown, and by a grand council, con-\\nsisting of members, chosen by the represent-\\natives of the diflferent colonies their number\\nto be in direct proportion to the sums paid by\\neach colony into the general treasury, with\\nthis restriction, that no colony should have\\nmore than seven, nor less than two represent-\\natives. The whole executive authority was\\ncommitted to the president general. The\\npower of legislation was lodged in the grand\\ncouncil and president general, jointly; his\\nconsent being made necessary to passing a\\nbill into a law. The power vested in the\\npresident and council was, to declare war and\\npeace, and to conclude treaties with the In-\\ndian nations to regulate trade with, and to\\nmake purchases of vacant lands from them,\\neither in the name of the crown, or of the\\nunion to settle new colonies, to make laws\\nfor governing these, until they should be\\nerected into separate governments; and to\\nraise troops, build forts, and fit out armed\\nvessels, and to use other means for the gen-\\neral defense and, to efi*ect these things, a\\npower was given to make laws, laying bUcL", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0204.jp2"}, "205": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRAMKLIN. 197\\nduties, imposts, or taxes, as they shouiu find\\nnecessary, and as would be least burdensome\\nto the people. All laws were to be sent to\\nEngland for the king s approbation and,\\nunless disapproved of within three years, were\\nto remain in force. All officers of the land\\nor sea service were to be nominated by the\\npresident general, and approved of by the gen-\\neral council civil officers were to be nomi-\\nnated by the council, and approved of by the\\npresident. Such are the outlines of the plan\\nproposed, for the consideration of the con-\\ngress, by Dr. Franklin. After several days\\ndiscussion, it was unanimously agreed to by\\nthe commissioners, a copy transmitted to each\\nassembly, and one to the king s council. The\\nfate of it was singular. It was disapproved\\nof by the ministry of Great Britain, because\\nit gave too much power to the representatives\\nof the people and it was rejected by exeyj\\nassembly, as giving to the president general,\\nthe representative of the crown, an influence\\ngreater than appeared to them proper, in a\\nplan of government intended for freemen.\\nPerhaps this rejection, on both sides, is the\\nstrongest proof that could be adduced of the", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0205.jp2"}, "206": {"fulltext": "198 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nexcellence of it, as suited to the situation of\\nAmerica and Great Britain at that time. It\\nappears to have steered exactly in the middle,\\nbetween the opposite interests of both.\\nWhether the adoption of this plan would\\nhave prevented the separation of America\\nfrom Great Britain is a question which might\\nafford much room for speculation. It may\\nbe said, that, by enabling the colonies to de-\\nfend themselves, it would have removed the\\npretext upon which the stamp act, tea act,\\nand other acts of the British parliament were\\npassed which excited a spirit of opposition,\\nand laid the foundation for the separation of\\nthe two countries. But, on the other hand,\\nit must be admitted, that the restriction laid\\nby Great Britain upon our commerce, oblig-\\ning us to sell our produce to her citizens only,\\nand to take from them various articles, of\\nwhich, as our manufacturers were discour-\\naged, we stood in need, at a price greater\\nthan that for which they could have been ob-\\ntained from other nations, must inevitably\\nproduce dissatisfaction, even though no du-\\nties were imposed by the parliament a cir-\\ncumstance irhich mip^bt still have taken place.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0206.jp2"}, "207": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF L\u00c2\u00bbR. FRANKLIN. 199\\nBesides, as the president general was to be\\nappointed by the crown, he must, of neces-\\nsity, be devoted to its views, and would,\\ntherefore, refuse to assent to any laws, how-\\never salutary to the community, which had\\nthe most remote tendency to injure the inter-\\nests of his sovereign. Even should they re-\\nceive his assent, the approbation of the king\\nwas to be necessary who would indubitably,\\nin every instance, prefer the advantage of\\nhis own dominions to that of his colonies.\\nHence would ensue perpetual disagreements\\nbetween the council and the president gen-\\neral, and thus between the people of America\\nand the crown of Great Britain while the\\ncolonies continued weak, they would be\\nobliged to submit, and as soon as they ac-\\nquired strength, they would become more ur-\\ngent in their demands, until, at length, they\\nwould shake off the yoke, and declare them-\\nselves independent.\\nWhilst the French were in possession of\\nCanada, their trade with the natives extended\\nvery far even to the back of the British set-\\ntlements. They were disposed, from time to\\ntime, to establish posts within the territory.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0207.jp2"}, "208": {"fulltext": "200 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nvvhicli the English claimed as their own. In-\\ndependent of the injury to the fur trade,\\nwhich was considerable, the colonies suffered\\nthis further inconvenience, that the Indians\\nwere frequently instigated to commit depre-\\ndations on their frontiers. In the year 1753,\\nencroachments were made upon the bound-\\naries of Virginia. Remonstrances had no\\neffect. In the ensuing year, a body of men\\nwas sent out under the command of Mr.\\nWashington, who, though a very young man,\\nhad, by his conduct in the preceding year,\\nshown himself worthy of such an important\\ntrust. Whilst marching to take possession\\nof the post at the junction of the Alleghany\\nand Monongahela, he was informed that the\\nFrench had already erected a fort there. A\\ndetachment of their men marched against\\nhim. He fortified himself as strongly as\\ntime and circumstances would admit. A su-\\nperiority of numbers soon obliged him to sur-\\nrender Fort Necessity. He obtained honor-\\nable terms for himself and men, and returned\\nto Virginia. The government of Great Bri-\\ntain now thought it necessary to interfere.\\nIn the year 1755, General Braddock, with", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0208.jp2"}, "209": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 201\\nsome -regiments of regular troops and pro-\\nvincial levies, was sent to dispossess the\\nFrench of the posts upon which they had\\nseized. After the men were all ready, a dif-\\nficulty occurred, which had nearly prevented\\nthe expedition. This was the want of wagons.\\nFranklin now stepped forward, and with the\\nassistance of his son, in a little time procured\\na hundred and fifty. Braddock unfortunate-\\nly fell into an ambuscade, and perished, with\\na number of his men. Washington, who had\\naccompanied him as an aid-de-camp, and had\\nwarned him, in vain, of his danger, now dis-\\nplayed great military talents in efiecting a\\nretreat of the remains of the army, and in\\nforming a junction with the rear, under Col-\\nonel Dunbar, upon whom the chief command\\nnow devolved. With some difficulty they\\nbrought their little body to a place of safety,\\nbut they found it necessary to destroy their\\nwagons and baggage, to prevent them from\\nfalling into the hands of the enemy. For\\nthe wagons, which he had furnished, Franklin,\\nhad given bonds to a large amount. The\\nowners declared their intention of obliging\\nhim to make a restitution of their property.\\n14 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0209.jp2"}, "210": {"fulltext": "202 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nHad they put their threats in execution, ruin\\nmust inevitably have been the consequence.\\nGovernor Shirley, finding that he had incur\\nred those debts for the service of government,\\nmade arrangements to have them discharged,\\nand released Franklin from his disagreeable\\nsituation.\\nThe alarm spread through the colonies,\\nafter the defeat of Braddock, was very great.\\nPreparations to arm were every where made.\\nIn Pennsylvania, the prevalence of the quak-\\ner interest prevented the adoption of any\\nsystem of defense, which would compel the\\ncitizens to bear arms. Franklin introduced\\ninto the Assembly a bill for organizing a mili-\\ntia, by which every man was allowed to take\\narms or not, as to him should appear fit.\\nThe quakers, being thus left at liberty, suf-\\nfered the bill to pass for although their prin-\\nciples would not sufi er them to fight, they had\\nno objection to their neighbors fighting for\\nthem. In consequence of this act a very re-\\nspectable militia was formed. The sense of\\nimpending danger infused a military spirit in\\nall, whose religious tenets were not opposed\\nto war. Franklin was appointed colonel fa", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0210.jp2"}, "211": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 203\\nregiment in Philadelphia, which consisted of\\n3200 men.\\nThe north-western frontier being invaded\\nby the enemy, it became necessary to adopt\\nmeasures for its defense. Franklin was di-\\nrected by the Governor to take charge of tliir^.\\nA power of raising men, and of appoiuting\\nofficers to command them was vested in him.\\nHe soon levied a body of troops, with which\\nhe repaired to the place at which their pres-\\nence was necessary. Here he built a fort,\\nand placed the garrison in such a posture of\\ndefense, as would enable them to withstand\\nthe inroads, to which the inhabitants had been\\npreviously exposed. He remained here for\\nsome time, in order the more completely to\\ndischarge the trust committed to him. Some\\nbusiness of importance at length rendered his\\npresence necessary in the Assembly, and he\\nreturned to Philadelphia.\\nThe defense of her colonies was a great\\nexpense to Great Britain. The most effectual\\niQode of lessening this was, to put arms into\\nthe hands of the inhabitants, and to teach\\nthem their use. But England wished not that\\nthe Americans should become acquainted with", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0211.jp2"}, "212": {"fulltext": "204 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\ntheir own strength. She was apprehensive,\\nthat, as soon as this period arrived, they\\nwould no longer submit to that monopoly of\\ntheir trade, which to them was highly inju-\\nrious, but extremely advantageous to the\\nmother country. In comparison with the\\nprofits of this, the expense of maintaining\\narmies and fleets to defend them was trifling.\\nShe fought to keep them dependent upon her\\nfor protection the best plan which could be\\ndevised for retaining them in peaceable sub-\\njection. The least appearance of a military\\nspirit was therefore to be guarded against\\nand, although a war then raged, the act of\\norganizing a militia was disapproved of by\\nthe ministry. The regiments which had been\\nformed under it were disbanded, and the de-\\nfense of the province was entrusted to reg-\\nular troops.\\nThe disputes between the proprietaries and\\nthe people continued in full force, although a\\nwar was raging on the frontiers. Not even\\nthe sense of danger was sufficient to reconcile,\\nfor ever so short a time, their jarring inter-\\nests. The Assembly still insisted upon the\\njustice of taxing the proprietary estates, but", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0212.jp2"}, "213": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 205\\n^I^H governors constantly refused their assent\\nthiJB measure, without which no bill could\\niss into a law. Enraged at the obstinacy,\\n:n d what they conceived to be unjust pro-\\nceedings of their opponents, the Assembly at\\nlength determined to apply to the mother\\ncountry for relief. A petition was addressed\\nto the king^ in council, stating the inconve-\\nniences under which the inhabitants labored\\nfrom the attention of the proprietaries to\\nther private interests, to the neglect of the\\ngeneral welfare of the community, and pray-\\ning for redress. Franklin was appointed to\\npresent this address, as agent for the province\\nof Pennsylvania, and departed from America,\\nin June, 1757. In conformity to the instruc-\\ntions which he had received from the legisla-\\nture, he held a conference with the proprieta-\\nries who then resided in England, and en-\\ndeavored to prevail upon them to give up the\\nlong contested point. Finding that they\\nwould hearken to no terms of accommodation,\\nhe laid his petition before the council. Dur-\\ning this time Governor Denny assented to a\\nlaw imposing tax, in which no discrimina-\\ntion was made in favor of the estates of the", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0213.jp2"}, "214": {"fulltext": "206 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nPenn family. They, alarmed at this intelli-\\ngence, and Franklin s exertions, used their\\nutmost endeavors to prevent the royal sanc-\\ntion being given to this law, which they rep-\\nresented as highly iniquitous, designed to\\nthrow the burden of supporting government\\nupon them, and calculated to produce the\\nmost ruinous consequences to them and their\\nposterity. The cause was amply discussed\\nbefore the privy council. The Penns found\\nhere some strenuous advocates nor were\\nthere wanting some who warmly espoused the\\nside of the people. After some time spent in\\ndebate, a proposal was made, that Franklin\\nshould solemnly engage, that the assessment\\nof the tax should be so made, as that the pro-\\nprietary estates should pay no more than a\\ndue proportion. This he agreed to perform,\\nthe Penn family withdrew their opposition,\\nand tranquillity was thus once more restored\\nto the province.\\nThe mode in which this dispute was termin-\\nated is a striking proof of the high opinion\\nentertained of Franklin s integrity and honor,\\neven by those who considered him as inimical\\nin their views. Nor was their confidence ill", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0214.jp2"}, "215": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 207\\nfounded. The assessment was made upon\\nA.\\nthe strictest principle of equity; and the\\nproprietary estates bore only a proportion-\\nable share of the expenses of supporting gov-\\nernment.\\nAfter the completion of this important\\nbusiness, Franklin remained at the court of\\nGreat Britain, as agent for the province\\nof Pennsylvania. The extensive knowledge\\nwhich he possessed of the situation of the col-\\nonies, and the regard which he always man-\\nifested for their interests, occasioned his ap-\\npointment to the same office by the colonies\\nof Massachusetts, Maryland, and Georgia.\\nHis conduct in this situation was such as\\nrendered him still more dear to his country-\\nmen.\\nHe had now an opportunity of indulging\\nin the society of those friends, whom his\\nmerits had procured him while at a distance.\\nThe regard which they had entertained for\\nhim was rather increased by a personal ac-\\nquaintance. The opposition which had been\\nmade to his discoveries in philosophy gradu-\\nally ceased, and the rewards of literary merit\\nwere abundantly conferred upon him. The", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0215.jp2"}, "216": {"fulltext": "208 LIFE OF DR, FRANKLIN.\\nRoyal Society of London, which had at first\\nrefused his performances admission into its\\ntransactions, now thought it an honor to rank\\nhim amongst its fellows. Other societies of\\nEurope were equally ambitious of calling him\\na member. The university of St. Andrew s,\\nin Scotland, conferred upon him the degree\\nof Doctor of Laws. Its example was followed\\nby the universities of Edinburgh and Oxford.\\nHis correspondence was sought for by the\\nmost eminent philosophers of Europe. His\\nletters to these abound with true science, de-\\nlivered in the most simple unadorned manner.\\nThe province of Canada was at this time in\\nthe possession of the French, who had orig-\\ninally settled it. The trade with the In-\\ndians, for which its situation was very con-\\nvenient, was exceedingly lucrative. The\\nFrench traders here found a market for their\\ncommodities, and received in return large\\nquantities of rich furs, which they disposed\\nof at a high price in Europe. Whilst the\\npossession of this country was highly advan-\\ntageous to France, it was a grievous incon-\\nvenience to the inhabitants of the British\\ncolonies. The Indians were almost generally", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0216.jp2"}, "217": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 209\\ndesirous to cultivate the friendship of the\\nFrench, by whom they were abundantly sup-\\nplied with arms and ammunition. ^Tienever\\na war happened, the Indians were ready to\\nfall upon the frontiers: and this they fre-\\nquently did, even when Great Britain and\\nFrance were at peace. From these consid-\\nerations, it appeared to be the interest of\\nGreat Britain to gain the possession of Can-\\nada. But the importance of such an acqui-^\\nsition was not well understood in England.\\nFranklin about this time published his Can-\\nada pamphlet, in which he, in a very forcible\\nmanner, pointed out the advantages which\\nwould result from the conquest of this prov-\\nince.\\nAn expedition against it was planned, and\\nthe command given to General Wolfe. His\\nsuccess is well known. At the treaty in\\n1762, France ceded Canada to Great Britain,\\nand by her cession of Louisiana, at the same\\ntime, relinquished all her possessions on the-\\ncontinent of America.\\nAlthough Dr. Franklin was now princi-\\npally occupied with political pursuits, he\\nfound time for philosophical studiV?, He ex-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0217.jp2"}, "218": {"fulltext": "210 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\ntendecl liis electrical researches, and niade e*\\nvariety of experiments, particularly on the\\ntourmalin. The singular properties which\\nthis stone possesses, of being electrified on\\none side positively, and on the other nega-\\ntively, by heat alone, ^vith()ut friction, had\\nbeen but lately observed.\\nSome experiments on the cold produced by\\nevaporation, made by Dr. Cullen, had been\\ncommunicated to Dr. Franklin, by Professor\\nSimpson, of Glasgow. These he repeated, and\\nfound, that, by the evaporation of ether in the\\nexhausted receiver of an air pump, so great a\\ndegree of cold was produced in a summer*s\\nday, that water was converted into ice. This\\ndiscovery he applied to the solution of a num-\\nber of phenomena, particularly a singular\\nfact, which philosophers had endeavored in\\nvain to account for, viz., that the temperature\\nof the human body, when in health, never ex-\\nceeds ninety-six degrees of Farenheit s ther-\\nmometer, although the atmosphere which sur-\\nrounds it may be heated to a much greater\\ndegree. This he attributed to the increased\\nperspiration, and consequent evaporation,\\nproduced by the heat.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0218.jp2"}, "219": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 211\\nIn a letter to Mr. Small, of London, dated\\nin May, 1760, Dr. Franklin makes a number\\nof observations, tending to show that, in\\nNorth America, north-east storms begin in\\nthe south-west parts. It appears, from ac-\\ntual observations, that a north-east storm,\\nwhich extended a considerable distance, com-\\nmenced at Philadelphia nearly four hours be-\\nfore it was felt at Boston. He endeavored\\nto account for this, by supposing that, from\\nheat, some rarefaction takes place about the\\ngulf of Mexico, that the air further north be-\\ning cooler rushes in, and is succeeded by the\\ncooler and denser air still farther north, and\\nthat thus a continued current is at length\\nproduced.\\nThe tone produced by rubbing the brim of\\na drinking glass with a wet finger had been\\ngenerally known. A Mr. Puckeridge, an\\nIrishman, by placing on a table a number of\\nglasses of different sizes, and tuning them by\\npartly filling them with water, endeavored to\\nform an instrument capable of playing tunes.\\nHe was prevented, by an untimely end, from\\nbringing his invention to any degree of per-\\nfection. After his death some improvements", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0219.jp2"}, "220": {"fulltext": "212 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nwere made upon his plan. The sweetness of\\nthe tones induced Dr. Franklin to make a\\nvariety of experiments and he at length\\nformed that elegant instrument, which he has\\ncalled the Armonica.\\nIn the summer of 1762, he returned to\\nAmerica. On his passage he observed the\\nsingular effect produced by the agitation of a\\nvessel, containing oil floating on water. The\\nsurface of the oil remains smooth and undis-\\nturbed, whilst the water is agitated with the\\nutmost commotion. No satisfactory explana-\\ntion of this appearance has, we believe, ever\\nbeen given.\\nDr. Franklin received the thanks of the\\nAssembly of Pennsylvania, as well for the\\nfaithful discharge of his duty to that prov-\\nince in particular, as for the many and im-\\nportant services done to America in general,\\nduring his residence in Great Britain.* A\\ncompensation of 5,000Z., Pennsylvania cur-\\nrency, was also decreed him for his services\\nduring six years.\\nDuring his absence he had been annually\\nelected member of the Assembly. On his re-\\nturn to Pennsylvania he again took his seat", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0220.jp2"}, "221": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 213\\nin this body, and continued a steady defender\\nof the liberties of the people.\\nIn December, 1762, a circumstance which\\ncaused great alarm in the pro^ce took place.\\nA number of Indians had resided in the\\ncounty of Lancaster, and conducted them-\\nselves uniformly as friends to the white in-\\nhabitants. Repeated depredations on the\\nfrontiers had exasperated the inhabitants to\\nsuch a degree, that they determined on re-\\nvenge upon every Indian. A number of per-\\nsons, to the amount of about one hundred and\\ntwenty, principally inhabitants of Donegal\\nand Peckstang or Paxton townships, in the\\ncounty of York, assembled and, mounted on\\nhorseback, proceeded to the settlement of\\nthese harmless and defenseless Indians, whose\\nnumber had now been reduced to about\\ntwenty. The Indians received intelligence\\nof the attack which was intended against\\nthem, but disbelieved it. Considering the\\nwhite people as their friends, they appre-\\nhended no danger from them. When the\\nparty arrived at the Indian settlement, they\\nfound only some women and children, and a\\nfew old men, the rest being absent at work.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0221.jp2"}, "222": {"fulltext": "211: LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nThey murdered all whom they found, and\\namongst others the chief Shaheas, who had\\nbeen always distinguished for his friendship\\nto the whites. This bloody deed excited\\nmuch indignation in the well disposed part of\\nthe community.\\nThe remainder of these unfortunate Indi-\\nans, who, by absence, had escaped the mas-\\nsacre, were conducted to Lancaster, and\\nlodged in the jail as a place of security.\\nThe governor issued a proclamation, express-\\ning the strongest disapprobation of the ac-\\ntion, offering a reward for the discovery of\\nthe perpetrators of the deed, and prohibiting\\nall injuries to the peaceable Indians in future.\\nBut, notwithstanding this, a party of the\\nsame men shortly after marched to Lan-\\ncaster, broke open the jail, and inhumanly\\nbutchered the innocent Indians who had been\\nplaced there for security. Another procla-\\nmation was issued, but it had no effect. A\\ndetachment marched down to Philadelphia,\\nfor the express purpose of murdering some\\nfriendly Indians, who had been removed to\\nthe city for safety. A number of the citizens\\narmed in their defense. The quakers, whose", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0222.jp2"}, "223": {"fulltext": "LIFE OP DE. FRANKLIN. 215\\nprinciples are opposed to fighting even in\\ntheir own defense, were most active upon this\\noccasion. The rioters came to Germantown.\\nThe governor fled for safety to the house of\\nDr. Franklin, who, with some others, ad-\\nvanced to meet the Paxton boys, as they were\\ncalled, and had influence enough to prevail\\nupon them to relinquish their undertaking,\\nand return to their homes.\\nThe disputes between the proprietaries and\\nthe Assembly, which, for a time had subsided,\\nwere again revived. The proprietaries were\\ndissatisfied with the concessions made in favor\\nof the people, and made great struggles to\\nrecover the privilege of exempting their es-\\ntates from taxation, which they had been in-\\nduced to give up.\\nIn 1763, the Assemby passed a militia\\nbill, to which the governor refused to give\\nhis assent, unless the Assembly would agree\\nto certain amendments which he proposed.\\nThese consisted in increasing the fines and,\\nin some cases substituting death for fines.\\nHe wished too, that the officers should be ap-\\npointed altogether by himself, and not be\\nnominated by the people, as the bill had pro-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0223.jp2"}, "224": {"fulltext": "216 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nposed. These amendments the Assembly con-\\nsidered as inconsistent with the spirit of lib-\\nerty. They would not adopt them the gov-\\nernor was obstinate, and the bill was lost.\\nThese, and various other circumstances, in-\\ncreased the uneasiness which subsisted be-\\ntween the proprietaries and the Assembly,\\nto such a degree that in 1764, a petition to\\nthe king was agreed to by the house, praying\\nan alteration from a proprietary to a regal\\ngovernment. Great opposition was made to\\nthis measure, not only in the house, but in\\nthe public prints. A speech of Mr. Dicken-\\nson, on the subject, was published, with a pre-\\nface by Dr. Smith, in which great pains were\\ntaken to show the impropriety and impolicy\\nof this proceeding. A spe?ch of Mr. Gallo-\\nway, in reply to Mr. Dickenson, was publish-\\ned, accompanied with a preface by Dr. Frank-\\nlin in which he ably opposed the principles\\nlaid down in the preface to Mr. Dickenson s\\nspeech. This application to the throne pro-\\nduced no effect. The proprietary government\\nwas still continued.\\nAt the election for a new assembly, in the\\nfall of 1764, the friends of the proprietaries", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0224.jp2"}, "225": {"fulltext": "LIFE CP DR. FRANKLIN. 217\\nmade great exertions to exclude those of the\\nadverse party and they obtained a small\\nmajority in the city of Philadelphia. Frank-\\nlin now lost his seat in the house, which he\\nhad held for fourteen years. On the meeting\\nof the Assembly, it appeared that there was\\nstill a decided majority of Franklin s friends.\\nHe was immediately appointed provincial\\nagent, to the great chagrin of his enemies,\\nwho made a solemn protest against his ap-\\npointment which was refused admission upon\\nthe minutes, as being unprecedented. It -vvas,\\nhowever, published in the papers, and [\u00c2\u00bbro-\\nduced a spirited reply from him, just btlbre\\nhis departure for England.\\nThe disturbances produced in America by\\nMr. Grenville s stamp act, and the opposition\\nmade to it, are well known. Under the Mar-\\nquis of Rockingham s administration, it ap-\\npeared expedient to endeavor to calm the\\nminds of the colonists and the repeal of the\\nodious tax was contemplated. Amongst other\\nmeans of collecting information on the dispo-\\nsition of the people to submit to it, Dr.\\nFranklin was called to the bar of the House\\nof Commons. The examination which he", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0225.jp2"}, "226": {"fulltext": "218 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nhere underwent was published, and contains\\na striking proof of the extent and accuracy\\nof his information, and the facility with which\\nhe communicated his sentiments. He repre-\\nsented facts in so strong a point of view, that\\nthe inexpediency of the act must have appear-\\ned clear to every unprejudiced mind. The\\nact, after some opposition, was repealed,\\nabout a year after it was enacted, and before\\nit had ever been carried into execution.\\nIn the year 1766, he made a visit to Hol-\\nland and Germany, and received the greatest\\nmarks of attention from men of science. In\\nhis passage through Holland, he learned from\\nthe watermen the effect which a diminution of\\nthe quantity of water in canals has in im-\\npeding the progress of boats. Upon his re-\\nturn to England, he was led to make a num-\\nber of experiments, all of which tended to\\nconfirm the observation. These, vhh an ex-\\nplanation of the phenomenon, he communi-\\ncated in a letter to his friend. Sir John Prin-\\ngle, which is among his philosophical pieces.\\nIn the following year he traveled into\\nFrance, where he met with a no less favora-\\nble reception than he had experienced in Ger", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0226.jp2"}, "227": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 219\\nmany. He was introduced to a number of lit-\\nerary characters, and to the King, Louis XV.\\nSeveral letters written by Hutchinson, Oli-\\nver, and others, to persons in eminent stations\\nin Great Britain, came into the hands of Dr.\\nFranklin. These contained the most violent\\ninvectives against the leading characters of\\nthe state of Massachusetts, and strenuously\\nadvised the prosecution of vigorous measures,\\nto compel the people to obedience to the\\nmeasures of the ministry. These he trans-\\nmitted to the legislature, by whom they were\\npublished. Attested copies of them were sent\\nto Great Britain, with an address, praying\\nthe king to discharge from office persons who\\nhad rendered themselves so obnoxious to the\\npeople, and who had shown themselves so un-\\nfriendly to their interests. The publication\\nof these letters produced a duel between Mr.\\nWhately and Mr. Temple each of whom was\\nsuspected of having been instrumental in pro-\\ncuring them. To prevent any further disputes\\non this subject. Dr. Franklin, in one of the\\npublic papers, declared that he had sent them\\nto America, but would give no information", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0227.jp2"}, "228": {"fulltext": "220 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nconcerning the manner in which he had ob-\\ntained them nor was this ever discovered.\\nShortly after, the petition of the Massa-\\nchusetts assembly was taken up for examina-\\ntion, before the privy council. Dr. Franklin\\nattended as agent for the assembly and here\\na torrent of the most violent and unwarranted\\nabuse was poured upon him by the solicitor\\ngeneral, Wedderburne, who was ens^aged as\\ncounsel for Oliver and Hutchinson. The peti-\\ntion was declared to be scandalous and vexa-\\ntious, and the prayer of it refused.\\nAlthough the parliament of Great Britain\\nhad repealed the stamp act, it was only upon\\nthe principle of expediency. They still in-\\nsisted upon their right to tax the colonies\\nand, at the same time that the stamp act was\\nrepealed, an act was passed, declaring the\\nright of parliament to bind the colonies in all\\ncases whatsoever. This language was used\\neven by the most strenuous opposers of the\\nstamp act and, amongst others, by Mr. Pitt.\\nThis right was never recognized by the col-\\nonists but, as they flattered themselves that\\nit would not be exercised, they were not very", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0228.jp2"}, "229": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 221\\nactive in remonstrating against it. Had this\\npretended right been suffered to remain dor-\\nmant, the colonists would cheerfully have\\nfurnished their quota of supplies, in the mode\\nto which they had been accustomed that is,\\nby acts of their own assemblies, in conse-\\nquence of requisitions from the Secretary of\\nState. If this practice had been pursued,\\nsuch was the disposition of the colonies to-\\nwards their mother country, that, notwith-\\nstanding the disadvantages under which they\\nlabored, from restraints upon their trade, cal-\\nculated solely for the benefit of the commer-\\ncial and manufacturing interests of Great\\nBritain, a separation of the two countries\\nmight have been a far distant event. The\\nAmericans, from their earliest infancy, were\\ntaught to venerate a people from whom they\\nwere descended whose language, laws, and\\nmanners were the same as their own. Thev\\nlooked up to them as models of perfection\\nand, in their prejudiced minds, the most en-\\nlightened nations of Europe were considered\\nas almost barbarians, in comparison with\\nEnglishmen. The name of an Englishman\\nconveyed to an American the idea of every", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0229.jp2"}, "230": {"fulltext": "222 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nthing good and great. Such sentiments in-\\nstilled into them in early life, what but a re-\\npetition of unjust treatment could have in-\\nduced them to entertain the most distant\\nthought of separation The duties on glass,\\npaper, leather, painters colors, tea, c., the\\ndisfranchisement of some of the colonies;\\nthe obstruction to the measures of the legis-\\nlature in others, by the king s governors;\\nthe contemptuous treatment of their humble\\nremonstrances, stating their grievances, and\\npraying a redress of them, and other vi-\\nolent and oppressive measures, at length\\nexcited an ardent spirit of opposition. In-\\nstead of endeavoring to allay this by a more\\nlenient conduct, the ministry seemed reso-\\nlutely bent upon reducing the colonies to the\\nmost slavish obedience to their decrees. But\\nthis only tended to aggravate. Vain were\\nall the efforts made use of to prevail upon\\nthem to lay aside their designs, to convince\\nthem of the impossibility of carrying them\\ninto effect, and of the mischievous conse-\\nquences which must ensue from a continuance\\nof the attempt. They persevered with a de-\\ngree of inflexibility scarcely paralleled.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0230.jp2"}, "231": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DF. RRANKLXIS. 223\\nThe advantages which Great Britain de-\\nrived from her colonies were so great, that\\nnothing but a degree of infatuation, little\\nshort of madness, could have produced a con-\\ntinuance of measures calculated to keep up a\\nspirit of uneasiness, which might occasion the\\nslightest wish for a separation. When we\\nconsider the great improvements in the sci-\\nence of government, the general diffusion of\\nthe principles of liberty amongst the people\\nof Europe, the effects which these have al-\\nready produced in France, and the probable\\nconsequences which will result from them\\nelsewhere, all of which are the offspring of\\nthe American revolution, it cannot but ap-\\npear strange, that events of so great moment\\nto the happiness of mankind should have been\\nultimately occasioned by the wickedness or\\nignorance of a British ministry.\\nDr. Franklin left nothing untried to pre-\\nvail upon the ministry to consent to a change\\nof measures. In private conversations, and\\nin letters to persons in government, he con-\\ntinually expatiated upon the impolicy and in-\\njustice of their conduct towards America;\\nand stated, that, notwithstanding^ the attach-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0231.jp2"}, "232": {"fulltext": "224 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nraent of the colonists to the mother countrj^\\na repetition of ill treatment must ultimately\\nalienate their affections. They listened not\\nto his advice. They blindly persevered in\\ntheir own schemes, and left to the colonists\\nno alternative, but opposition, or uncondition-\\nal submission. The latter accorded not with\\nthe principles of freedom which they had\\nbeen taught to revere. To the former they\\nwere compelled, though reluctantly, to have\\nrecourse.\\nDr. Franklin, finding all efforts to restore\\nharmony between Great Britain and her col-\\nonies useless, returned to America in the year\\n1775, just after the commencement of hos-\\ntilities. The day after his return he was\\nelected by the legislature of Pennsylvania a\\ndelegate to congress. Not long after his\\nelection a committee was appointed, consist-\\ning of Mr. Lynch, Mr. Harrison, and him-\\nself, to visit the camp at Cambridge, and, in\\nconjunction with the commander-in-chief, to\\nendeavor to convince the troops, whose term\\nof enlistment was about to expire, of the ne-\\ncessity of their continuing in the field, and\\npersevering in the cause of their country.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0232.jp2"}, "233": {"fulltext": "Dr. Bond sought the aid of Frankhn. Page 193.\\nAutobiograpliy of Bcnjamiu Franklin.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0233.jp2"}, "234": {"fulltext": "", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0234.jp2"}, "235": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 225\\nIn the fall of the same year he ^asited\\nCanada, to endeavor to unite them in the\\ncommon cause of liberty but they could not\\nbe prevailed upon to oppose the measures of\\nthe British government. M. le Roy, in a let-\\nter annexed to Abbe Fauchet s eulogium of\\nDr. Franklin, states, that the ill success of\\nthis negotiation was occasioned, in a great\\ndegree, by religious animosities, which sub-\\nsisted between the Canadians and their neigh-\\nbors, some of whom had, at different times,\\nburnt their chapels.\\nWhen Lord Howe came to America, in\\n1776, vested with power to treat with the\\ncolonists, a correspondence took place be-\\ntween him and Dr. Franklin on the subject\\nof a reconciliation. Dr. Franklin was after-\\nwards appointed, together with John Adams\\nand Edward Rutledge, to wait upon the com-\\nmissioners, in order to learn the extent of\\ntheir powers. These were found to be only\\nto grant pardons upon submission. These\\nwere terms which would not be accepted\\nand the object of the commissioners could not\\nhe obtained.\\nThe momentous question of independence\\n15 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0235.jp2"}, "236": {"fulltext": "226 LIFE OF DB. FRANKLIN.\\nwas shortly after brought into view, at a time\\nwhen the fleets and armies, which were sent\\nto enforce obedience, were truly formidable.\\nWith an army, numerous indeed, but ignorant\\nof discipline, and entirely unskilled in the art\\nof war, without money, without a fleet, with-\\nout allies, and with nothing but the love of\\nliberty to support them, the colonists de-\\ntermined to separate from a country, from\\nwhich they had experienced a repetition of in-\\njury and insult. In this question, Dr. Frank-\\nlin was decidedly in favor of the measure\\nproposed, and had great influence in bringing\\nothers over to his sentiments.\\nThe public mind had been already prepared\\nfor this event, by Mr. Paine s celebrated pam-\\nphlet. Common Sense, There is good reason\\nto believe that Dr. Franklin had no incon-\\nsiderable share, at least, in furnishing mate-\\nrials for this work.\\nIn the convention which assembled at Phil-\\nadelphia in 1776, for the purpose of estab-\\nlishing a new form of government for the\\nstate of Pennsylvania, Dr. Franklin was\\nchosen president. The late constitution of\\nthis state, which was the result of their de\u00c2\u00bb", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0236.jp2"}, "237": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 22\\nZl. i\\nliberations, may be considered as a digest of\\nhis principles of government. The single\\nlegislature, and the plural executive, seem to\\nhave been his favorite tenets.\\nIn the latter end of 1776, Dr. Franklin\\nwas appointed to assist at the negotiation\\nwhich had been set on foot by Silas Deane,\\nat the court of France. A conviction of the\\nadvantages of a commercial intercourse with\\nAmerica, and a desire of weakening the\\nBritish Empire by dismembering it, first in-\\nduced the French court to listen to proposals\\nof an alliance. But they showed rather a\\nreluctance to the measure, which by Dr.\\nFranklin s address, and particularly by the\\nsuccess of the American arms against Gene-\\nral Burgoyne, was at length overcome and in\\nFebruary, 1778, a treaty of alliance, offensive\\nand defensive, was concluded in consequence\\nof which France became involved in the war\\nwith Great Britain.\\nPerhaps no person could have been found\\nmore capable of rendering essential services\\nto the United States at the court of France\\nthan Dr. Franklin. He was well known as a\\nphilosopher, and his character was held in the", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0237.jp2"}, "238": {"fulltext": "228 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nhighest estimation. He was received with\\nthe greatest marks of respect by all the lit-\\nerary characters and this respect was ex-\\ntended amongst all classes of men. His per-\\nsonal influence was hence very considerable.\\nTo the eflfects of this were added those of va-\\nrious performances which he published, tend-\\ning to establish the credit and character of the\\nUnited States. To his exertions in this way\\nmay, in no small degree, be ascribed the suc-\\ncess of the loans negotiated in Holland and\\nFrance, which greatly contributed to bringing\\nthe war to a happy conclusion.\\nThe repeated ill success of their arms, and\\nmore particularly the capture of Cornwallis\\nand his army, at length convinced the British\\nnation of the impossibility of reducing the\\nAmericans to subjection. The trading inter-\\nest particularly became clamorous for peace.\\nThe ministry were unable longer to oppose\\ntheir wishes. Provisional articles of peace\\nwere agreed to, and signed at Paris, on the\\n30th of November, 1782, by Dr. Franklin,\\nMr. Adams, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Laurens, on\\nthe part of the United States and by Mr.\\nOswald 0)1 the part of Great Britain. These", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0238.jp2"}, "239": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 229\\nformed the basis of the definitive treaty, which\\nwas concluded on the 3d of September, 1T83,\\nand signed by Dr. Franklin, Mr. Adams, and\\nMr. Jay, on the one part, and by Mr. David\\nHartly on the other.\\nOn the 3d of April, 1783, a treaty of am-\\nity and commerce, between the United States\\nand Sweden, was concluded at Paris by Dr.\\nFranklin and the Count Von Krutz.\\nA similar treaty with Prussia was conclud-\\ned in 1785, not long before Dr. Franklin s\\ndeparture from Europe.\\nDr. Franklin did not suflfer his political\\npursuits to engross his whole attention. Some\\nof his performances made their appearance\\nin Paris. The object of these was generally\\nthe promotion of industry and economy.\\nIn the year 1784, when animal magnetism\\nmade great noise in the world, particularly\\nat Paris, it was thought a matter of such im-\\nportance that the king appointed commission-\\ners to examine into the foundation of this\\npretended science. Dr. Franklin was one of\\nthe number. After a fair and diligent exam*\\nination, in the course of which Mesmer re-\\npeated a number of experiments, in the pres-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0239.jp2"}, "240": {"fulltext": "230 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nence of the commissioners, some of which\\nwere tried upon themselves, they determined\\nthat it was a mere trick, intended to impose\\nupon the ignorant and credulous Mesmer\\nwas thus interrupted in his career to wealth\\nand fame, and a most insolent attempt to im-\\npose on the human understanding baffled.\\nThe important ends of Dr. Franklin s mis-\\nsion being completed by the establishment of\\nAmerican independence, and the infirmities\\nof age and disease coming upon him, he be-\\ncame desirous of returning to his native coun-\\ntry. Upon application to congress to be re-\\ncalled, Mr. Jefi erson was appointed to suc-\\nceed him, in 1785. Some time in September\\nof the same year. Dr. Franklin arrived in\\nPhiladelphia. He was shortly after chosen a\\nmember of the supreme executive c^ ni ill for\\nthe city, and soon after was elected f resident\\nof the same.\\nWhen a convention was called to meet in\\nPhiladelphia, in 1787, for the purpose of giv-\\ning more energy to the government of the\\nunion, by revising and amending the articles\\nof confederation, Dr. Franklin was appointed\\na delegate from the state of Pennsylvania.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0240.jp2"}, "241": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 231\\nHe signed the constitution which they pro-\\nposed for the union, and gave it the most un-\\nequivocal marks of his approbation.\\nA society for political inquiries, of which\\nDr. Franklin was president, was established\\nabout this period. The meetings were held\\nat his house. Two or three essays read in\\nthis society were published. It did not long\\ncontinue.\\nIn the year 1787, two societies were estab-\\nlished in Philadelphia, founded on the princi-\\nples of the most liberal and refined humanity\\nThe Philadelphia Society for alleviating\\nthe miseries of public prisons and the Penn-\\nsylvania Society for promoting the abolition\\nof slavery, the relief of free negroes unlaw-\\nfully held in bondage, and the improvement\\nof the condition of the African race. Of\\neach of these Dr. Franklin was president.\\nThe labors of these bodies have been crowned\\nwith great success and they continue to\\nprosecute, with unwearied diligence, the laud-\\nable designs for which they were established.\\nDr. Franklin s increasing infirmities pre-\\nvented his regular attendance at the council\\nchamber; and, in 1788, he retired wholly\\nfrom public life.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0241.jp2"}, "242": {"fulltext": "232 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nHis constitution had been a remarkably\\ngood one. He had been little subject to dis-\\nease, except an attack of the gout occasion-\\nally, until about the year 1781, when he was\\nfirst attacked with symptoms of the calculous\\ncomplaint, which continued during his life*\\nDuring the intervals of pain from this griev-\\nous disease, he spent many cheerful hours,\\nconversing in the most agreeable and instruct-\\nive manner. His faculties were entirely un-\\nimpaired even to the hour of his death.\\nHis name, as president of the abolition so-\\nciety, was signed to the memorial presented\\nto the House of Representatives of the United\\nStates, on the 12th of February, 1789, pray-\\ning them to exert the full extent of power\\nvested in them by the constitution, in dis-\\ncouraging the traffic of the human species.\\nThis was his last public act. In the debates\\nto which his memorial gave rise, several at-\\ntempts were made to justify the trade. In\\nthe Federal Gazette of March 25, there ap-\\npeared an essay, signed Historicus, written\\nby Dr. Franklin, in which he communicated\\na speech, said to have been delivered in the\\nDivan of Algiers, in 1687, in opposition to the", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0242.jp2"}, "243": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN. 233\\nprayer of the petition of a sect called Erikay\\nor pursuits, for the abolition of piracy and\\nslavery. This pretended African speech was\\nan excellent parody of one delivered by Mr.\\nJackson, of Georgia. All the arguments\\nurged in favor of negro slavery, are applied\\nwith equal force to justify the plundering and\\nenslaving of Europeans. It affords, at the\\nsame time, a demonstration of the futility of\\nthe arguments in defense of the slave trade,\\nand of the strength of mind and ingenuity of\\nthe author, at his advanced period of life. It\\nfurnished too, a no less convincing proof of\\nhis power of imitating the style of other times\\nand nations, than his celebrated parable\\nagainst persecution. And as the latter led\\nmany persons to search the Scriptures with a\\nview to find it, so the former caused many\\npersons to search the bookstores and libraries\\nfor the work from which it was said to be\\nextracted.\\nIn the beginning of April following, he was\\nattacked with a fever and complaint of his\\nbreast, which terminated his existence. The\\nfollowing account of his last illness was writ-\\nten by his friend and physician, Dr. Jones*\\n16 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0243.jp2"}, "244": {"fulltext": "234 LIFE OP DR. FRANKLIN.\\nThe stone, with which he had been af-\\nflicted for several years, had for the last\\ntwelve months confined him chiefly to his bed;\\nand, during the extreme painful paroxysms,\\nhe was obliged to take large doses of lauda-\\nnum to mitigate his tortures still, in the in-\\ntervals of pain, he not only amused himself\\nwith reading and conversing cheerfully with\\nhis family, and a few friends who visited him,\\nbut was often employed in doing business of\\na public as well as private nature, with various\\npersons who waited on him for that purpose\\nand in every instance, displayed, not only\\nthat readiness and disposition of doing good,\\nwhich was the distinguishing characteristic\\nof his life, but the fullest and clearest pos-\\nsession of his uncommon mental abilities and\\nnot unfrequently indulged himself in those\\njeux d esprit and entertaining anecdotes,\\nwhi }h were the delight of all who heard him.\\nAbout sixteen days before his death, he\\nwas seized with a feverish indisposition, with-\\nout any particular symptoms attending it,\\ntill the third or fourth day, when he com-\\nplained of a pain in the left breast, which in-\\ncreased till it became extremely acute, at-", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0244.jp2"}, "245": {"fulltext": "LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIM. 235\\nSended tTith a cough and laborious breathing.\\nDuring this state, when the severity of his\\npains sometimes drew forth a groan of com-\\nplaint, he would observe that he was afraid\\n^e did not bear them as he ought acknowl-\\nidged his grateful sense of the many blessiiig:^\\nle had received from that Supreme Being,\\n(vho had raised him from small and low be-\\nginnings to such high rank and consideration\\namong men and made no doubt but his\\npresent afflictions were kindly intended to\\nwean him from a world, in which he was no\\nlonger fit to act the part assigned him. In\\nthis frame of body and mind he continued till\\nfive days before his death, when his pain and\\nlifficulty of breathing entirely left him, and\\nhis family were flattering themselves with the\\nhopes of his recovery, when an imposthuma-\\ntion, which had formed itself in his lungs,\\nsuddenly burst, and discharged a great quan-\\ntity of matter, which he continued to throw\\nup while he had sufficient strength to do it\\nbut, as that failed, the organs of respiration\\nbecame gradually oppressed a calm lethar-\\ngic state succeeded and, on the ITth of\\nApril, 1790, about eleven o clock at night, he", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0245.jp2"}, "246": {"fulltext": "236 LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nquietly expired, closing a long and useful life\\nof eighty-four years and three months.\\nIt may not be amiss to add to the above\\naccount, that Dr. Franklin, in the year 1735,\\nhad a severe pleurisy, which terminated in an\\nabscess of the left lobe of his lungs, and he\\nwas then almost suffocated with the quantity\\nand suddenness of the discharge. A second\\nattack, of a similar nature, happened some\\nyears after this, from which he soon recovered,\\nand did not appear to suffer any inconvenience\\nin his respiration from these diseases.\\nThe following epitaph on himself, was writ-\\nten by him many years previous to his death\\nTHE BODY\\nof\\nBENJAMIN FRANKLIN,\\nPrinter,\\n(like the cover of an old book\\nits contents torn out,\\nand stript of its lettering and gilding,)\\nlies here food for worms\\nyet the work itself shall not be lost,\\nfor it will (as he believed) appear once more\\nin a new\\nand more beautiful edition,\\ncorrected and amended\\nby\\nTHE AUTHOR.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0246.jp2"}, "247": {"fulltext": "EXTEACTS FEOM THE LAST WILL AND\\nTESTAMENT OF DR. FRANKLLST.\\nWith regard to my books, those I had in\\nFrance, and those I left in Philadelphia, be-\\ning now assembled together here, and a cat-\\nalogue made of them, it is my intention to\\ndispose of the same as follows\\nMy History of the Academy of Sciences,\\nin sixty or seventy volumes quarto, T give to\\nthe Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, of\\nwhich I have the honor to be president. My\\ncollection in folio of Les Arts et les Me-\\ntiers, I give to the American Philosophical\\nSociety, established in New England, of\\nwhich I am a member. My quarto edition\\nof the same, Arts et Metiers/ I give to the\\nLibrary Company of Philadelphia. Such\\nand so many of my books as I shall mark, in\\nthe said catalogue, with the name of my\\ngrandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, I do\\nhereby give to him and such and so many of\\nmy books as I shall mark in the said cata-\\nlogue with the name of my grandson William", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0247.jp2"}, "248": {"fulltext": "238 EXTRACTS FROM\\nBache, I do hereby give to him and such\\nas shall be marked with the name of Jonathan\\nWilliams, I hereby give to my cousin of that\\nname. The residue and remainder of all my\\nbooks, manuscripts, and papers, I do give to\\nmy grandson William Temple Franklin. My\\nshare in the Library Company of Philadelphia\\nI give to my grandson, Benjamin Franklin\\nBache, confiding that he will permit his\\nbrothers and sisters to share in the use of it.\\nI was born in Boston, New England, and\\nowe my first instructions in literature to the\\nfree grammar school established there. I\\ntherefore give one hundred pounds sterling to\\nmy executors, to be by them, the survivors or\\nsurvivor of them, paid over to the managers\\nor directors of the free schools in my native\\ntown of Boston, to be by them, or the person\\nor persons, who shall have the superintend-\\nence and management of the said schools,\\nput out to interest, and so continued at in-\\nterest for ever which interest annually shall\\nbe laid out in silver medals, and given as hon-\\norary rewards annually by the dirc^itors of\\nthe said free schools, for the encouragement\\nof scholarship in the said schools, belonging", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0248.jp2"}, "249": {"fulltext": "DR. franklin s will. 239\\nto the said town, in such manner as to the\\ndiscretion of the select men of the said town\\nshall seem meet.\\nOut of the salary that may remain due to\\nme, as president of the state, I give the sum\\nof two thousand pounds to my executors, to he\\nby them, the survivors or survivor of them,\\npaid over to such person or persons as the\\nlegislature of this state, by an act of assem-\\nbly, shall appoint to receive the same, in\\ntrust, to be employed for making the Schuyl-\\nkill navigable.\\nDuring the number of years I was in busi-\\nness as a stationer, printer, and postmaster, a\\ngreat many small sums became due to me, for\\nbooks, advertisements, postage of letters, and\\nother matters, which were not collected,\\nwhen, in 1757, I was sent by the Assembly\\nto England as their agent and, by subse-\\nquent appointments continued there till 1775\\nwhen, on my return, I was immediately\\nengaged in the aifairs of congress, and sent\\nto France in 1776, where I remained nine\\nyears, not returning till 1785 and the said\\ndebts not being demanded in such a length of\\ntime, have become in a manner obsolete, yet", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0249.jp2"}, "250": {"fulltext": "240 EXTRACTS FROM\\nare nevertheless justly due. These as thev\\nare stated in my great folio ledger, E, I be-\\nqueath to the contributors of the Pennsyl-\\nvania hospital, hoping that those debtors, and\\nthe descendants of such as are deceased, who\\nnow, as I find, make some diflSculty of satis-\\nfying such antiquated demands as just debts,\\nmay, however, be induced to pay or give them\\nas charity to that excellent institution. I am\\nsensible that much must be inevitably lost^\\nbut I hope something considerable may be\\nrecovered. It is possible, too, that some of\\nthe parties charged may have existing old un-\\nsettled accounts against me: in which case\\nthe managers of the said hospital will allow\\nand deduct the amount, or pay the balance,^\\nif they find it against me.\\nI request my friends, Henry Hill, Esq.,\\nJohn Jay, Esq., Francis Hopkinson, and Mr.\\nEdward Duffield of Bonfield, in Philadelphia\\ncounty, to be the executors of this my last\\nwill and testament, and I hereby nominate\\nand appoint them for that purpose.\\nI would have my body buried with as little\\nexpense or ceremony as may be.\\nPhiLAXeiphiaj July 17, 1788.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0250.jp2"}, "251": {"fulltext": "DR. franklin s will. 241\\nCODICIL.\\nI, Benjamin Franklin, in the foregoing\\nor annexed last will and testament, having\\nfurther considered the same, do think proper\\nto make and publish the following codicil, or\\naddition thereto\\nIt having long been a fixed and political\\nopinion of mine, that in a democratical state\\nthere ought to be no offices of profit, for the\\nreasons I had given in an article of my draw-\\ning in our constitution, it was my intention^\\nwhen I accepted the office of president, to de-\\nvote the appointed salary to some public user\\naccordingly I had already, before I made my\\nlast will in July last, given large sums of it\\nto colleges, schools, building of churches, c.,\\nand in that will I bequeathed two thousand\\npounds more to the state, for the purpose of\\nmaking the Schuylkill navigable but under-\\nstanding since, that such a sum would do but\\nlittle towards accomplishing such a work, and\\nthat the project is not likely to be undertaken\\nfor many years to come and having enter-\\ntained another idea, which I hope maj- be", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0251.jp2"}, "252": {"fulltext": "242 EXTRACTS FROM\\nmore exten-sively useful, I do hereby revoke\\nand annul the bequest, and direct that the\\ncertificates I have for what remains due to me\\nof that salary, be sold towards raising the\\nsum of two thousand pounds sterling, to be\\ndisposed of as I am now about to order.\\nIt has been an opinion, that he who re-\\nceives an estate from his ancestors, is under\\nsome obligation to transmit the same to pos-\\nterity. This obligation lies not on me, who\\nnever inherited a shilling from any ancestor\\nor relation. I shall, however, if it is not di-\\nminished by some accident before my death,\\nleave a considerable estate among my de-\\nscendants and relations. The above observa-\\ntion is made merely as some apologj^ to my\\nfamily, for my making bequests that do not\\nappear to have any immediate relation to\\ntheir advantage.\\nI was born in Boston, New England, and\\nowe ray first instructions in literature to the\\nfree grammar schools established there. I\\nhave therefore considered those schools in\\nmy will.\\nBut I am also under obligations to the state\\nof Massachusetts, for having, unasked, ap-", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0252.jp2"}, "253": {"fulltext": "DR. FRANKLIN S WILL. 243\\npointed me formerly their agent, with a hand-\\nsome salary, which continued some years;\\nand, although I accidently lost in their ser-\\nvice, by transmitting Governor Hutchinson s\\nletters, much more than the amount of what\\nthey gave me, I do not think that ought in\\nthe least to diminish my gratitude. I have\\nconsidered that, among artisans, good ap-\\nprentices are most likely to make good citi-\\nzens and having myself been bred to a man-\\nual art, printing, in my native town, and af-\\nterwards assisted to set up my business in\\nPhiladelphia by kind loans of money from\\ntwo friends there, which was the foundation\\nof my fortune, and of all the utility in life\\nthat may be ascribed to me I wish to be\\nuseful even after my death, if possible, in\\nforming and advancing other young men, that\\nmay be serviceable to their country in both\\nthese towns.\\nTo this end I devote two thousand pounds\\nsterling, which I give, one thousand thereof\\nto the inhabitants of the town of Boston in\\nMassachusetts, and the other thousand to the\\ninhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, in\\ntrust, to and for the uses, intents, and pur-\\nposes, herein after mentioned and declaied.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0253.jp2"}, "254": {"fulltext": "244 ^.XTBACTS FHO.M\\nThe said sum of one thousand pounds ster-\\nling, if accepted by the inhabitants of the\\ntown of Boston, shall be managed under the\\ndirection of the select men, united with the\\nministers of the oldest episcopalian, congre-\\ngational, and presbyterian churches in that\\ntown, who are to let out the same upon inter-\\nest at five per cent, per annum, to such young\\nmarried artificers, under the age of twenty-\\nfive years, as have served an apprenticeship\\nin the said town, and faithfully fulfilled the\\nduties required in their indentures, so as to\\nobtain a good moral character from at least\\ntwo respectable citizens, who are willing to\\nbecome sureties in a bond, with the applicants,\\nfor the repayment of the money so lent, with\\ninterest, according to the terms herein after\\nprescribed all which bonds are to be taken^\\nfor Spanish milled dollars, or the value there-\\nof in current gold coin and the manager\\nshall keep a bound book, or books, wherein*\\nshall be entered the names of those who shall^\\napply for and receive the benefit of this in-\\nstitution, and of their sureties, together with\\nthe sums lent, the dates, and other necessary\\nand proper records respecting the business", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0254.jp2"}, "255": {"fulltext": "DR. franklin s will. 245\\nmnd concerns of this institution and as these\\nloans are intended to assist young married\\nartificers in setting up their business, they\\nare to be proportioned by the discretion of\\nthe managers, so as not to exceed sixty\\npounds sterling to one person, nor to be less\\nthan fifteen pounds.\\nAnd if the number of appliers so entitled\\nshould be BO large as that the sum will not suf-\\nfice to afford to every one some assistance,\\nthese aids may therefore be small at first, but\\nas the capital increases by the accumulated\\ninterest, they will be more ample. And in\\norder to serve as many as possible in their\\nturn, as well as to make the repayment of\\nthe principal borrowed more easy, each bor-\\nrower shall be obliged to pay with the yearly\\ninterest, one-tenth part of the principal;\\nwhich sums of principal and interest so paid\\nin, shall be again let out to fresh borrowers.\\nAnd it is presumed, that there will be always\\nfound in Boston virtuous and benevolent cit-\\nizens,, willing to bestow a part of their time\\nin doing good to the rising generation, by\\nsuperintending and managing this institution\\ngratis it is hoped, that no part of the money", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0255.jp2"}, "256": {"fulltext": "246 EXTRACTS FROM\\nwill at any time lie dead, or be diverted to\\nother purposes, but be continually augment-\\ning by the interest, in which case there may\\nin time be more than the occasion in Boston\\nmay require and then some may be spared\\nto the neighboring or other towns in the said\\nstate of Massachusetts, which may desire to\\nhave it, such towns engaging to pay punctu-\\nally the interest, and the proportions of the\\nprincipal annually to the inhabitants of the\\ntown of Boston. If this plan is executed, and\\nsucceeds, as projected, without interruption\\nfor one hundred years, the sum will be then\\none hundred and thirty-one thousand pounds\\nof which I would have the managers of the\\ndonation to the town of Boston then lay out,\\nat their discretion, one liundred thousand\\npounds in public works, which may be judged\\nof most general utility to the inhabitants:\\nsuch as fortifications, bridges, aqueducts, pub-\\nlic buildings, baths, pavements, or whatever\\nmay make living in the town more convenient\\nto its people, and render it more agreeable to\\nstrangers resorting thither for health, or a\\ntemporary residence. The remaining thirty-\\none thousand pounds I would liave continuec}", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0256.jp2"}, "257": {"fulltext": "DR. franklin s will. 247\\nto be let out to interest, in the manner aboc\\ndirected, for one hundred years; as I hot C\\nit will have been found, that the institution\\nhas had a good effect on the conduct of youth,\\nand been of service to many worthy charac-\\nters and useful citizens. At the end of this\\nsecond term, if no unfortunate accident has\\nprevented the operation, the sum will be four\\nmillions and sixty-one thousand pounds ster-\\nling, of which I leave one million and sixty-\\none thousand pounds to the disposition and\\nmanagement of the inhabitants of the town\\nof Boston, and the three millions to the dis-\\nposition of the government of the state not\\npresuming to carry my views further.\\nAll the directions herein given respecting\\nthe disposition and management of the dona-\\ntion to the inhabitants of Boston, I would\\nhave observed respecting that to the inhab-\\nitants of Philadelphia, only as Philadelphia\\nis incorporated, I request the corporation of\\nthat city to undertake the management,\\nagreeable to the said directions: and I do\\nhereby vest them with full and ample powers\\nfor that purpose. And having considered\\nthat the covering its ground plat with build-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0257.jp2"}, "258": {"fulltext": "*248 EXTRACTS FROiM\\nings and pavements, which carry oflf most\\nrain, and prevent its soaking into the earth,\\n^nd renewing and purifying the springs,\\nwhence the water of the wells must gradually\\n,grow worse, and in time be unfit for use, as I\\nfind has happened in all old cities I recom-\\nmend, that, at the end of the first hundred\\njears, if not done before, the corporation of\\nthe city employ a part of the hundred thou-\\nsand pounds in bringing by pipes the water\\nof Wissahickon creek into the town, so as to\\nsupply the inhabitants; which I apprehend\\nmay be done without great difficulty, the level\\nof that creek being much above that of the\\ncity, and may be made higher by a dam. I\\nalso recommend making the Schuylkill com-\\npletely navigable. At the end of the second\\nliundred years, I would have the disposition\\nof the four millions and sixty-one thousand\\npounds divided between the inhabitants of\\nthe city of Philadelphia and the government\\nof Pennsylvania, in the same manner as here-\\nin directed with respect to that of the in-\\nhabitants of Boston and the government of\\nMassachusetts. It is my desire that this in-\\nstitution should take place, and begin to op-", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0258.jp2"}, "259": {"fulltext": "DR. franklin s will. 249\\nerate -v^ithin one year after my decease for\\nwhich purpose due notice should be publicly\\ngiven, previous to the expiration of that year^\\nthat those for whose benefit this establishment\\nis intended may make their respective appli-\\ncations and I hereby direct my executors^\\nthe survivors and survivor of them, within six\\nmonths after my decease, to pay over the said\\nsum of two thousand pounds sterling to such\\npersons as shall be duly appointed by the\\nselect men of Boston, and the corporation of\\nPhiladelphia, and to receive and take charge\\nof their respective sums of one thousand\\npounds each for the purposes aforesaid. Con-\\nsidering the accidents to which all human\\naffairs and projects are subject in such a\\nlength of time, I have perhaps too much flat-\\ntered myself with a vain fancy, that these\\ndispositions, if carried into execution, will be\\ncontinued without interruption, and have the\\neffects proposed I hope, however, that if the\\ninhabitants of the two cities should not think\\nfit to undertake the execution, they will at\\nleast accept the offer of these donations, as a\\nmark of my good will, token of my gratitude,\\nand testimony of my desire to be useful to", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0259.jp2"}, "260": {"fulltext": "250 EXTRACTS FROM, ETC.\\nthem even after my departure. I wish, in\\ndeed, that they may both undertake to en\\ndeavor the execution of my project, because\\nI think, that, though unforeseen difficulties\\nmay arise, expedients will be found to remove\\nthem, and the scheme be found practicable.\\nIf one of them accepts the money with the\\nconditions, and the other refuses, my will\\nthen is, that both sums be given to the inhab-\\nitants of the city accepting the whole to be\\napplied to the same purposes, and under the\\nfiame regulations directed for the separate\\nparts and if both refuse, the money remains\\nof course in the mass of my estate, and it is\\nto be disposed of therewith, according to my\\nwill made the seventeenth day of July, 1788.\\nMy fine crab-tree walking-stick, with a\\ngold head curiously wrought in the form of\\nthe Cap of Liberty, I give to my friend, and\\nthe friend of mankind. General Washington.\\nIf it were a sceptre, he has merited it, and\\nwould become it.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0260.jp2"}, "261": {"fulltext": "ESSAYS,\\nHUMOROUS, MORAL, AND LITERARY.\\nON EARLY MARRIAGES.\\nTO JOHN ALLEYN, ESQ.\\nDear Jack You desire, you say, my impartial\\nthoughts on the subject of an early marriage, by way\\nof answer to the numberless objections that have been\\nmade by numerous persons to your own. You may\\nremember, when you consulted me on the occasion,\\nthat I thought youth on both sides to be no objection.\\nIndeed, from the marriages that have fallen under my\\nobservation, I am rather inclined to think that early\\nones stand the best chance of happiness. The temper\\nand habits of the young are not yet become so stiff\\nand uncomplying, as when more advanced in life\\nthey form more easily to each other, and hence, many\\noccasions of disgust are removed. And if youth has\\nless of that prudence which is necessary to manage a\\nfamily, yet the parents and elder friends of young\\nmarried persons are generally at hand to afford their\\nadvice, which amply supplies that defect and, by\\nearly marriage, youth is sooner formed to regular and\\nuseful life; and possibly some of those incidents or\\nconnections, that might have injured the constitution\\nor reputation, or both, are thereby happily prevented.\\nParticular circumstances of particular persons may\\npossibly sometimes make it prudent to delay entering\\ninto that state but in general, when nature has ren-\\ndered our bodies fit for it, the presumption is in nature s\\n251", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0261.jp2"}, "262": {"fulltext": "252 franklin s essays.\\nfavor, tLat she has not judged amiss in making us d^\\nsire it. Late marriages are often attended, too, with\\nthis further inconvenience, that there is not the same\\nchance that the parents should live to see their offspring\\neducated. Late children, says the Spanish proverb,\\nare early orphans. A melancholy reflection to those\\nwhose case it may be! With us in America, mar-\\nriages are generally in the morning of life: our chil-\\ndren are therefore educated and settled in the world\\nby noon and thus, our business being done, we have\\nan afternoon and evening of cheerful leisure to our-\\nselves, such as our friend at present enjoys. By these\\nearly marriages we are blessed with more children\\nand from the mode among us, founded by nature, of\\nevery mother suckling and nursing her own child,\\nmore of them are raised. Thence the swift progress\\nof population among us, unparalleled in Europe. In\\nfine, I am glad you are married, and congratulate you\\nmost cordially upon it. You are now in the way of\\nbecoming a useful citizen; and ^^ou have escaped the\\nunnatural state of celibacy for life the fate of many\\nhere, who never intended it, but who, having too long\\npostponed the change of their condition, find, at length,\\nthat it is too late to think of it, and so live all their\\nlives in a situation that greatly lessens a man s value.\\nAn odd volume of a oet of books bears not the value\\nof its proportion to the set. What think you of the\\nodd half of a pair of scissor3? it can t well cut any-\\nthing it may possibly serve to scrape a trencher.\\nPray make my compliments and best wishes accept-\\nable to your bride. I am old and heavy, or I should\\nere this have presented them in person. I shall make\\nbut small use of the old man s privilege, that of giving\\nadvice to younger friends. Treat your wife alwaya\\nwith respect; it will procure respect to 3 ou, not only\\nfrom her, but from all that observe it. Never use a\\nslighting expression to her, even in jest; xorsligh .s in\\njest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry\\nearnest. Be studious in your profession, and you will\\nbe learned. Be industrious and frugal and you will\\nbe rich. Be sober and temperate, and you will be\\nhealthy. Be in e:eneral virtuous, and you will be", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0262.jp2"}, "263": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 253\\nbappy. At least, you will, by such conduct, stand the\\nbest chance for such consequences, I pray God to bless\\nyou both being ever your affectionate friend.\\nB. Franklin.\\nTHE WHISTLR\\nA TEUE STORY, WRITTEN TO HIS NEPHEW.\\nWhen I was a child, at seven years old, my frieods,\\non a holiday, filled my pockets with coppers. I went\\ndirectly to a shop where they sold toys for children\\nand, being charmed with the sound of a whistle, that\\nI met by the way, in the hands of another boy, I vol-\\nuntarily offered him all my money for one. I then\\n-came home, and went whistling all over the house,\\nmuch pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the\\nfamily. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, under-\\nstanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given\\nfour times as much for it as it was worth. This put\\nme in mind what good things I might have bought\\nwith the rest of the money; and they laughed at me\\nso much for my folly, that I cried with vexation and\\nthe reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle\\ngave me pleasure.\\nThis, however, was afterward of use to me, the im-\\npression continuing on my mind; so that often, when\\nI was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said\\nto myself, BorCt give too much for the whistle and I\\nsaved my money.\\nAs I grew up, came into the world, and observed\\nthe actions of men, I thought I met with many, very\\nmany, who gave too much for the whistle.\\nWhen I saw any one too ambitious of court favors,\\nsacrificing his time in attendance on levees, his repose,\\nhis liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to attain\\nit, I have said to myself, This man gives too much for\\nhis whistle.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0263.jp2"}, "264": {"fulltext": "^54 franklin s essays.\\nWhen I saw another fond of popularity, constantly\\nemployini]: himself in political bustle, neglecting his\\nown affairs, and ruining them by that neglect He\\n2 Ays indeed, says I, too mucli for his whistle.\\nIf I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of com\\nfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others,\\nall the esteem of his fellow citizens, and the joys of\\nbenevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating\\nwealth Poor man says I, you do indeed pay too much\\nfor your whistle.\\nWhen I meet a man of pleasure, sacrificing every\\nlaudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune,\\nto mere corporeal sensations Mistaken man^ says I,\\nyou are providing pain for yourself instead of pleasure\\nyou give too much for your whistle.\\nIf 1 see one fond of fine clothes, fine furniture, fine\\nequipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts\\ndebts, and ends his career in prison Alas, says I, he\\nhas paid dear^ very dear for his whistle.\\nWhen I see a beautiful, sweet-tempered girl, mar-\\nried to an ill-natured brute of a husband; What a\\npity it is, says I, that she has paid so much for a whistle.\\nIn short, I conceived that a great part of the mise-\\nries of mankind were brought upon them by the false\\nestimates they had made of the value of things, and by\\ntheir giving too much for their whistle.\\nA PETITION\\nTO THOSE WHO HATB THE SUPEiaNTENDKNOT OF EDUCATIOK.\\nI ADDRESS myself to all the friends of youth, and\\nconjure them to direct their compassionate regards to\\nmy unhappy fate, in order to remove the prejudices of\\nwnich I am the victim. There are twin sisters of us:\\nand the two eyes of man do not more resemble^ nor\\nare capable of being upon better terms with each other,", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0264.jp2"}, "265": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 255\\nthan ji y sister and myself, were it not for the partiality\\nof our parents, who made the most injurious distinc-\\ntions between us. From m^^ infancy I have been led\\nto consider my sister as a being of a more elevated\\nrank. I was suffered to grow up without the least\\ninstruction, while nothing was spared in her educa-\\ntion, ^he had masters to teach her writing, drawing,\\nmusic, and other accomplishments; but if, by chance,\\nI touched a pencil, a pen, or a needle, I was bitterly\\nrebuked and more than once I have been beaten for\\nbeing awkward, and wanting a graceful manner. It\\nis true, my sister associated me with her upon some\\noccasions; but she always made a point of taking the\\nlead, calling upon me only from necessity, or to figure\\nby her side.\\nBut conceive not, sirs, that my complaints are in\\nstigated merely by vanity. No my uneasiness is\\noccasioned by an object much more derious. It is the\\npractice of our family, that the whole Imsiness of pro-\\nviding for its subsistence falls upon my sister and my-\\nself. If any indisposition should aback my sister,\\nand I mention it in confidence, upon this occasion,\\nthat she is subject to the gout, the rheumatism, and\\ncramp, without making mention of other accidents\\nwhat would be the fate of our poor family Must not\\nthe regret of our parents be excessive, at having placed\\nso great a difi erence between sisters who are so per-\\nfectly equal? Alas I we must perish from distress:\\nfor it would not be in my power even to scrawl a sup-\\npliant petition for relief, having been obliged to employ\\nthe hand of another in transcribing the request which\\nI have now the honor to prefer to you.\\nCondescend, sirs, to make my parents sensible of the\\ninjustice of an exclusive tenderness, and of the neceesi\\nty of distributing their care and affection among all\\ntheir children equally,\\nI am, with profound respect, Sirs,\\nYour obedient servant^\\nThk Left Hajta.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0265.jp2"}, "266": {"fulltext": "^\u00e2\u0080\u00a2^6 franklin s essays.\\nTHE HANDSOME AND DEFORMED LEG.\\nThere are two sorts of people in the world, who^\\nwith equal degrees of health and wealth, and the other\\ncomforts of life, become the one happy, and the other\\nmiserable. This arises very much from the different\\nviews in which they consider things, persons, and\\nevents and the effect of those different views upon\\ntheir own minds.\\nIn whatever situations men can be placed, tliey may\\nfind conveniences and inconveniences in whatever\\ncompany, they may find persons and conversation\\nmore or less pleasing: at whatever table, they may\\nineot with meats and drinks of better and worse taste,\\ndishes better and worse dressed: in whatever climate,\\nthey will find 2:ood and bad weather under whatever\\ngovernment, they may find good and bad laws, and\\ngood and bad administration of those laws in what-\\never poem, or work of genius, they may see faults and\\nbeauties in almost every face, and every person, they\\nmay discover fine features and defects, good and bad\\nqualities.\\nUnder these circumstances, the two sorts of people\\nabove mentioned, fix tlieir attention those who are\\ndisposed to be happy, on the conveniences of things,\\nthe pleasant parts of conversation, the well dressed\\ndishes, the goodness of the wines, the fine weather,\\nfec., and enjoy all with cheerfulness. Those who are\\nto be unhappy, think and speak only of the contraries.\\nHence, they are continually discontented themselves,\\nand, by the remarks, so\\\\ r the pleasure of society;\\noffend personally many people, and make themselves\\ntivery where disagreeable. If this turn of mind was\\nfounded in nature, such ur happy persons would be the\\nmore to be pitied. But as the disposition to criticise,\\nand to be disgusted, is, perhaps, taken up originally\\nby imitation, and is, unawares, grown into a habit,\\nwhich, ^-Jiough at present strong, may nevertheless be", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0266.jp2"}, "267": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 257\\nCTired, when those who have it are convinced of it*\\nbad effect on their felicity I hope this little admoni-\\ntion may be of service to them, and put them on chang-\\ning a habit, which, though in the exercise it is chiefly\\nan act of imagination, yet it has serious consequences\\nin life, as it brings on real griefs and misfortunes.\\nFor as many are offended by, and nobody loves, this\\nsort of people, no one shows them more than the most\\ncommon civility and respect, and scarcely that; and\\nthis frequently puts them out of humor, and draws\\nthem into disputes and contentions. If they aim at\\nobtaining some advantage in rank or fortune, nobody\\nwishes them success, or will stir a step, or speak a\\nword to favor their pretensions. If they incur public\\ncensure or disgrace, no one wiil defend or excuse, and\\nmany join to aggravate their misconduct, and render\\ntliera completely odious. If these people will not\\nehange this bad habit, and condescend to be pleased\\nsvith what is pleasing, without fretting themselves or\\nothers about the contraries, it is good for others to avoid\\nan acquaintance with them which is always disagreea-\\nble, and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when\\none finds one s self entangled in their quarrels.\\nAn old philosophical friend of mine was grown, from\\nexperience, very cautious in this particular, and care-\\nfully avoided any intimacy with such people. He had,\\nlike other philosophers, a thermometer to show him\\nthe heat of the weather; and a barometer, to mark\\nwhen it was likely to prove good or bad but there\\nbeing no instrument invented to discover, at first sight,\\nthis unpleasing disposition in a person, he, for that\\npurpose, made use of his legs: one of which was re-\\nmarkably handsome; the other, by some accident,\\ncrooked and deformed. If a stranger, at first inter-\\nview, regarded his ugly leg more than his handsome\\none, he doubted him. If he spoke of it, and took no\\nnotice of the handsome leg, that was sufiicient to de-\\ntermine my })hilosopher to have no further acquaintance\\nwith him. Everybody has not this two-legged instru-\\nment but erery one, with a little attention, may ob-\\n\u00c2\u00abw*rve signs of that carping, fault-finding disposition.\\n^^d take the same resolution of avoiding the acquain-\\n17 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0267.jp2"}, "268": {"fulltext": "258 fra^ztlin s essays.\\ntance of those infected with it. I, therefore, advise\\nthose critical, querulous, discontented, unhappy people,\\nif they wish to be respected and beloved by others,\\nand happy in themselves, they should leave off looking\\nU the ugly leg.\\nTHE ART OF PROCURING PLEASANT DREAMa\\nINSCRIBED TO MISS\\nBKNO WBTTTEN AT HSB UCQUBST.\\nAs a great part of our life is spent in sleep, during\\nwhich we have sometimes pleasing and sometimes\\npainful dreams, it becomes of some consequence to ob-\\ntain the one kind and avoid the other for whether\\nreal or imaginary, pain is pain, and pleasure is plea-\\nsure. If we can sleep without dreaming, it is well\\nthat painful dreams are avoided. If, while we sleep,\\nwe can have any pleasing dreams, it is as the French\\nsay, tant gagne, so much added to the pleasure of life.\\nTo this end it is, in the first place, necessary to be\\ncareful in preserving health, by due exercise and great\\ntemperance for in sickness, the imagination is dis-\\nturbed; and disagreeable, sometimes terrible, ideas\\nare apt to present themselves. Exercise should pre-\\ncede meals, not iuunediately follow them: the first\\npromotes, the latter, unless moderate, obstructs diges-\\ntion. If after exercise we feed sparingly, the digestion\\nwill be easy and good, the body lightsome, the temper\\ncheerful, and all the animal functions performed agreea-\\nbly. Sleep, when it follows, will be natural and\\nundisturbed. While indolence, with full feeding, oc-\\ncasions nightmares and horrors inexpressible we fall\\nfrom precipices, are assaulted by wild beasts, murder-\\ners, and demons, and experience every variety of dis-\\ntress. Observe, however, that the quantities of food\\nand exercise are relative things those who move much", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0268.jp2"}, "269": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 259\\nVAAjf and indeed ought, to eat more those who use lit-\\ntle exercise, should eat little. In general, mankind\\nBince the improvement of cookery, eat about twice as\\nmuch as nature requires. Suppers are not bad, if we\\nhave not dined but restless nights naturally follow\\nhearty suppers after full dinners. Indeed, as there is a\\ndifference in constitutions, some will rest after these\\nmeals it costs them only a frightful dream and an\\napoplexy, after which they sleep till doomsday. ISToth\\ning is more common in the newspapers, than instances\\nof people, who, after eating a hearty supper, are found\\ndead a-bed in the morning.\\nAnother means of preserving health to be attended\\nto, is the having a constant supply of fresh air in your\\nbed-chamber. It has been a great mistake, the sleep-\\ning in rooms exactly closed, and in beds surrounded\\nby curtains. No outward air that may come into you,\\nis so unwholesome as the unchanged air, often breathed,\\nof a close chamber. As boiling water does not grow\\nhotter by longer boiling, if the particles that receive\\ngreater heat cau escape; so living bodies do not putre-\\nfy, if the particles, as fast as they become putrid, can be\\nthrown off. Nature expels them by the pores of the\\nskin and lungs, and in a free open air, they are carried\\noff but, in a close room, we receive them again and\\nagain, though they become more and more corrupt. A\\nnumber of persons crowded into a small room, thus\\nspoil the air in a few minutes, and even render it mor-\\ntal, as in the Black Hole at Caleutta. A single per-\\nson is said to spoil only a gallon of air per minute, and\\ntherefore requires a longer time to spoil a chamberfuil;\\nbut it is done, however, in proportion, and many putrid\\ndisorders hence have their origin. It is recorded of\\nMethusalem, who, being the longest liver, may be sup-\\nposed to have best preserved his health, that he slept\\nalways in the open air; for, when he had lived five\\nhundred years, an angel said to him, Arise Methusa*\\nlem, and build thee an house, for thou shall live yet\\nfive hundred years longer. ButMethusalem answered\\nand said, If I am to live but five hundred 3 eai8 longer,\\nit is not worth while to build me an house I will sleep\\nin the air as I have been used to do. Physicians, at", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0269.jp2"}, "270": {"fulltext": "260 franklin s essays.\\nter having for ages contended that the sick should not\\nbe indulged with fresh air, have at length discovered\\nthat it may do them good. It is therefore to be hoped\\nthat they may in time discover likewise, that it is not\\nhurtful to those who are in health and that we may\\nthen be cured of the aerophobia, that at present dis-\\ntresses weak minds, and makes them choose to be stifled\\nand poisoned, rather than leave open the windows of\\na bedchamber, or put down the glass of a coach.\\nConfined air, when saturated with perspirable mat\\nter,* will not receive more and that matter must re\\nmain in our bodies, and occasion diseases but it givea\\nsome previous notice of its being about to be hurtful,\\nby producing certain uneasiness, slight indeed, at first,\\nsuch as, with regard to the lungs, is a trifling sensation,\\nand to the pores of the skin a kind of restlessness which\\nit is difficult to describe, and few that feel it know the\\ncause of it. But we may recollect, that sometimes, on\\nwaking in the night, we have, if warmly covered, found\\nit difficult to get to sleep again. We turn often, with-\\nout finding repose in any position. This fidgetiness,\\nto use a vulgar expression for want of a better, is occa-\\nsioned wholly by an uneasiness in the skin, owing to\\nthe retention of the perspirable matter the bedclothes\\nhaving received their quantity, and, being saturated,\\nrefusing to take any more. To become sensible of this\\nby an experiment, let a person keep his position in the\\nbed, but throw off the bedclothes, and suffer fresh air\\nto approach the part uncovered of his body he will\\nthen feel that part suddenly refreshed for the air will\\nimmediately relieve the skin, by receiving, licking up,\\nand carrying off the load of perspirable matter that\\ninconunoded it. For every portion of cool air that ap-\\nproaches the warm skin, in receiving its part of that\\nvapor, receives therewith a degree of heat, that rare-\\nfies and renders it lighter, when it will be pushed\\naway with its burden, by cooler and therefore heavier\\nfresh air which, for a moment supplies its place, and\\nWbftt physicians call the perspirable matter, Is that vapor which\\npass\u00c2\u00abe oflF from our bodies, from Uie lanes and through the pores of\\nthf% skin. The quantity of this is said to be five-eighths of what w\u00c2\u00ab\\neat", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0270.jp2"}, "271": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 261\\nthen, being likewise changed and warmed, gives way\\nto a succeeding quantity. This is the order of nature^\\nto prevent animals being infected by their own perspi-\\nration. He will now be sensible of the difference be-\\ntween the part exposed to the air, and that which, re-\\nmaining sunk in the bed. denies the air access, for this\\npart now manifests its uneasiness more distinctly by\\nthe comparison, and the seat of the uneasiness is more\\nplainly perceived than when the whole surface of the\\nbody was affected by it.\\nHere, then, is one great and general cause of un-\\npleasing dreams. For when the body is uneasy, the\\nmind will be disturbed by it, and disagreeable ideaa\\nof various l^nds will, in sleep, be the natural conse-\\nquences. The remedies, preventive and curative, follow\\n1. By eating moderately, (as before advised for\\nhealth s sake,) less perspirable matter is produced in a\\ngiven time hence the bedclothes receive it longer be-\\nfore they are saturated and we may, therefore, sleep\\nlonger, before we are made uneasy by their refusing to\\nreceive any more.\\n2. By using thinner and more porous bedclothes,\\nwhich will suffer the perspirable matter more easily\\nto pass through them, we are less incommoded, suon\\nbeing longer tolerable.\\n3. When you are awakened by this uneasiness, and\\nfind you cannot easily sleep again, get out of bed, beat\\nup and turn your pillow, shake the bedclothes well,\\nwith at least twenty shakes, then throw the bed open,\\nand leave it to cool; in the meanwhile, continuing\\nundressed, walk about your chamber, till your skin has\\nhad time to discharge its load, which it will do sooner\\nas the air may be drier and colder. When j ou begin\\nto feel the cold air unpleasant, then return to your\\nbed; soon you will fall asleep, and your sleep will be.\\nsweet and pleasant. All the scenes presented to your\\nfancy will be of the pleasing kind. I am often as\\nagreeably entertained with them, as by the scenery of\\nan opera. If you happen to be too indolent to get out\\nof bed, you may, instead of it, lift up your bedclothes\\nwith one arm and leg, so as to draw in a good deal of\\nfresh air, and by letting them fall, force it out again j", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0271.jp2"}, "272": {"fulltext": "262 franklin s essays.\\nthis, repeated twenty times, will so clear them of the\\nperspirable matter they have imbibed, as to permit\\nyour sleeping well for some time afterward. But this\\nlatter method is not equal to the former.\\nThose who do not love trouble, and can afford to\\nhave two beds, will find great luxury in rising, when\\nthey wake in a hot bed, and going into a cold one.\\nSuch shifting of beds would also be of great service to\\npersons ill of fever, as it refreshes and frequently pro-\\ncures sleep. A very large bed, that will admit a re-\\nmoval so distant from the first situation as to be cool\\nand sweet, may, in a degree, answer the same end.\\nOne or two observations more will conclude this lit-\\ntle piece. Care must be taken, when you lie down, to\\ndispose your pillow so as to suit your manner of placing\\nyour head, and to be perfectly easy then place your\\nlimbs 80 as not to bear inconveniently hard upon od\u00c2\u00ab\u00c2\u00bb\\nanother: as, for instance, the joints of your ankles;\\nfor, though a bad position may at first give but little\\npain, and be hardly noticed, yet a continuance will\\nrender it less tolerable, and the uneasiness may come\\non while you are asleep, and disturb your imagination.\\nThese are the rules of the art. But though they\\nwill generally prove effectual in producing the end\\nintended, there is a case in which the most punctual\\nobservance of them will be totally fruitless. I need\\nnot mention the case to you, my dear friend but my\\naccount of the art would be imperfect without it. The\\ncase is, when the person who desires to have pleasant\\ndreams, has not taken care to preserve, what is necei^-\\n\u00e2\u0080\u00a2ary above all things\u00e2\u0080\u0094 a good consoienoe.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0272.jp2"}, "273": {"fulltext": "yaJLJTKIJK s ESSAYb, 263\\nADVICE TO A YOUNG TRADESMAN.\\nWEITTBN AKNO 1748, TO MT FEIEND A. B.\\nAs you have desired it of me, I write the following\\nhints, which have been of service to me, and may, if\\nobserved, be so to you.\\nRemember that time is money. He that can earn\\nten shillings a day by his labor, and goes abroad, oi\\nsits idle one half of that day, though he spends but\\nsixpence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to\\nreckon that the only expense he has really spent, oi\\nrather has thrown away, five shillings besides.\\nRemember that credit is money. If a man lets his\\nmoney lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me th\u00c2\u00ab\\ninterest, or so much as I can make of it during that\\ntime. This amounts to a considerable sum, where a\\nman has good and large credit, and makes good use\\nof it.\\nRemember that money is of a prolific, generating\\nnature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can\\nbeget, more, and so on. Five shillings turned is six;\\nturned again it is seven and threepence and bo on till\\nit becomes a hundred pounds. The more there is of it\u00c2\u00bb\\nthe more it produces every turning, bo that the profits\\nrise quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding\\nsow, destroys all her offspring to the thousandth gen-\\neration. He that murders a crown, destroys all that\\nit might have produced, even scores of pounds.\\nRemember that six pounds a year is but a groat a day.\\nFor this little sum, (which may be daily wasted, either\\nin time or expense, unperceived,) a man of credit may,\\non his own security, have the constant possession and\\nuse of a hundred pounds. So much in stock, briskly\\ntamed by an industrious man, produces great ad-*\\nvantage.\\nRemember this saying, The good paymaster is lord\\nof another man s purse, He that is known to pay\\npunctually and exactly to the tinie he promises, may", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0273.jp2"}, "274": {"fulltext": "264 feankun s essays.\\nat any time, and on any occasion, raise all the money\\nhis friends can spare. This is sometimes of great nse.\\nAfter industry and frugality, nothing contributes more\\nto the raising a young man in the world, than punc-\\ntuality and justice in all his dealings therefore, never\\nkeep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you\\npromised, lest a disappointment shut up your friend*8\\npurse forever.\\nThe most trifling actions that affect a man s credit\\nare to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at\\nfive in the morning, or nine at night, neard by a credi-\\ntor, makes him easy six months longer; but if he sees\\nyou at a billiard table, or hears your voice at a tavern,\\nwhen you should be at work, he sends for his money\\nthe next day demands it before he can receive it in a\\nlump.\\nIt shows besides that you are mindful of what you\\nowe; it makes you appear a careful, as well as an\\nhonest man, and that still increases your credit.\\nBeware of thinking all your own that you possess,\\nand of living accordingly. It a mistake that many\\npeople who have credit fall into. To prevent this,\\nkeep an exact account, for some tim\u00c2\u00ab^ both of your ex-\\npenses and your income. If you take the pains, at\\nfirst, to mention particulars, it will have this good\\neffect you will discover how wonderfully small, tri-\\nfling expenses mount up to large sums, and will discern\\nwhat might have been, and may for the future be saved,\\nwithout occasioning any great inconvenience.\\nIn short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as\\nplain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on\\ntwo words, industry and frugality; that is, waste\\nneither time nor money^ but make the best use of both.\\nWithout industry and frugality, nothing will do, and\\nwith them everything. He that gets all he can hon-\\nestly, and saves all he gets, (necessary expenses ex-\\ncepted,) will certainly become rich if that Being,\\nwho governs the world, to whom all should look for a\\nblessing on their honest endeavors^ doth not, in his\\nwise providence, otherwise determine.\\nAn Old Tiladbsm^v.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0274.jp2"}, "275": {"fulltext": "franklin s E8SAY8. 265\\nNECESSARY HINTS\\n\u00e2\u0080\u00a2O THOSE THAT WOULD BB RIGB, WBIITEN ANNO 17 8S.\\nThb use of money is all the adyantage there is in\\nhaving money.\\nFor six pounds a year, you may have the U8\u00c2\u00ab of one\\nhundred pounds, provided you are a man of known\\nprudence and honesty.\\nHe that spends a groat a day idly, spends idly above\\nsix pounds a year, which is the price for the use of one\\nhundred pounds.\\nHe that wastes idly a groat s worth of his time per\\nday, one day with another, wastes the privilege of usmg\\none hundred pounds each day.\\nHe that idly loses five shillings worth of time, loses\\nfive shillings, and might as prudently throw five shil-\\nlings into the sea.\\nHe that loses five shillings, not only loses that sum,\\nbut all the advantages that might be made by turning\\nit in dealing which, by the time that a young man\\nbecomes old, will amount to a considerable sum of\\nmoney.\\nAgain he that sells upon credit, asks a price for\\nwhat he sells, equivalent to the principal and interest\\nof his money, for the time he is to be kept out of it:\\ntherefore, he that buys upon credit, pays interest for\\nwhat he buys and he that pays ready money, might\\nlet that money out to use so that he that possesses\\nanything he has bought, pays interest for the use of it.\\nYet, in buying goods, it is best to pay ready money,\\nbecause, he that sells upon credit, expects to lose five\\nper cent, by bad debts therefore, he charges, on all he\\nBells upon credit^ an advance that shall make up that\\ndeficiency.\\nThose who pay for what they buy upon credit, pay\\ntheir share of this advance.\\nHe that pays ready money, escapes, or may escapee,\\nthat charge.\\nA penny saved is two pence clear\\nA pin a day^s a groai a year,\\n18 Franklin L", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0275.jp2"}, "276": {"fulltext": "266 FRANKLIN S ESSAYS.\\nTHE WAY TO MAKE MONEY PLENTY\\nIN EVERT MAN S POCKET.\\nAt this time, when the general complaint is, that\\nmoney is scarce,** it will be an act of kindness to in-\\nform the moneyless how they may reinforce their\\npockets, I will acquaint them with the true secret of\\nmoney-catching; the certain way to fill empty purses\\nand how to keep them always fulL Two simple\\nrules, well observed, will do the business.\\nFirst Let honesty and industry be thy constant com-\\npanions; and,\\nSecondly, Spend one penny less then thy clear gains.\\nThen shall thy hide-bound pocket soon begin to\\nthrive, and will never again cry with the empty-belly-\\nache neither will creditors insult thee, nor want op-\\npress, nor hunger bite, nor nakedness freeze thee. The\\nwhole hemisphere will shine brighter, and pleasure\\nspring up in every corner of thy heart. Now, there-\\nfore, embrace these rules and be happy. Banish the\\nbleak winds of sorrow from thy mind, and live inde-\\npendent. Then shalt thou be a man, and not hide thy\\nface at the approach of the rich, nor suffer the pain of\\nfeeling little when the sons of fortune walk at thy\\nright hand: for independency, whether with little or\\nmuch, is good fortune, and placeth thee on even ground\\nwith the proudest of the golden fleece. 0, then, be\\nwise, and let industry walk with thee in the morning,\\nand attend thee until thou reachest the evening hour\\nfor rest. Let honesty be as the breath of thy soul, and\\nnever forget to have a penny, when all thy expenses\\nare enumerated and paid then shalt thou reach the\\npoint of happiness, and independence shall be thy\\nshield and buckler, thy helmet and crown then shall\\nthy soul walk upright^ nor stoop to the silken wretch,\\nbecause he hath riches, nor pocket an abuse, because\\nthe hand which offers it wears a ring set with\\ndiamonds.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0276.jp2"}, "277": {"fulltext": "franexin s essays. 267\\nPAPER: A POEM.\\nSome wit of old\u00e2\u0080\u0094flnch wits of old there wer^\u00e2\u0080\u0094\\nWhoee hints showed meaning, whose allusionB\\nBy one hrave stroke to mark all human kind,\\nCalled clear blank paper every infant mind\\nWhen still, as opening sense her dictates wrot\u00c2\u00ab\\\\\\nFair virtue put a seal, or vice a blot\\nThe thought was happy, pertinent, and true\\nMethinks a genius might the plan pursue.\\nI,\u00e2\u0080\u0094 can you pardon my presumption I,\\nNo wit, no genius, yet for once will try.\\nVarious the papers, various wants produoo,\\nThe wants of fashion, elegance, and use\\nMen are as various and, If right I scan,\\nEach sort of paper represents some mem.\\nPray note the fop\u00e2\u0080\u0094 half powder and half laoei,\\nNice as a bandbox were his dwelling place;\\nHe s the gUtpaper^ which apart you store,\\nAnd lock from vulgar hands in the scrutoirc\\nMechanics, servants, farmers, and so Ibrth,\\nAre copy paper of inferior worth\\nLess prized, more useful, for your desk decreed,\\nFree to all pens, and prompt at every need.\\nThe wretch whom avarice bids to pinch and span,\\nStarve, cheat, and pilfer, to enrich an heir.\\nIs coarse ttrown pa/per such as pedlars choose\\nTo wrap up wares, which better men will use.\\nTake next the misers contrast, who destroys\\nHealth, fame, and fortune, in a round of joys.\\nWill any paper match him? Yes, throuirhout.\\nHe s a true sinking paper^ past all doubt\\nThe retail politician s anxious thought\\nDeems this side always right and that stark nought;\\nHe foams with censure with applause he ravee\\nA dupe to rumors, and a tool of knaves\\nHe ll want no type his weakness to proclaim,\\nWhile such a thing e fooU cap has a name.\\nThe hasty gentleman whose blood runs high.\\nWho picks a quarrel, if you step awry.\\nWho can t a jest or hint, or look endure;\\nWhat is he What touch-paper, to be snr\u00c2\u00a9", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0277.jp2"}, "278": {"fulltext": "268 franklin s essays.\\nWhat are onr poets, take them as they fall,\\nGood, bad, rich, poor, much read, not read at ail f\\nThem and their works in the same class you ll find\\nThey are the mere waste pa/per of mankind.\\nObserve the maiden, Innocently sweet,\\nShe s fair wMte pa/per, an unsullied sheet\\nOn which the happy man. whom fate ordains,\\nMay write his naone^ and take her for his pains.\\nOne instance more, and only one, I ll bring;\\nT is the great mam., who scorns a little thing,\\nWhose thoughts, whose deeds, whose maxima are hte CfWtk^\\nFormed on the feelings of his heart alone\\nTrue, genuine royal pa/per Is his breast;\\nOf all the kinds most precious, purestjbest\\nON THE AET OF SWIMMING\\nm ANSWER TO SOKE INQUIRIES OF M. DUBOUEG,* ON THF\\nSUBJECT.\\nI AM apprehensive that I shall not be able to find\\nleisure for making all the disquisitions and eiperimenos\\nwhich would be desirable on the subject. I must,\\ntherefore, content myself with a few remarks.\\nThe specific gravity of some human bodies, in com-\\nparison to that of water, has been examined by M.\\nRobinson, in our Philosophical Transactions, vol 60\u00c2\u00bb\\npage 30, for the year 1^757. He asserts that fat per-\\nsons, with small bones, float most easily upon water.\\nThe diving bell is accurately described m our Ti ans-\\nactions.\\nWhen I was a boy, I made two oval pallets, each\\nabout ten inches long, and six broad, with a hole for\\nthe thumb, in order to retain it fast in the palm of my\\nhand. They much resemble a painter s pallets. In\\nswimming, I pushed the edges of these forward, and\\nI struck the water with their flat surfaces as I drew\\nthem back. I remember I swam faster by means oi\\nTranslator of Dr. Franklin s Works into Freneh.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0278.jp2"}, "279": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 269\\nthoes pallets, but they fatigued my wrists. I also\\nfitted to the soles of my feet a kind of sandals but I\\nwas not satisfied with them, because I observed that\\nthe stroke is partly given by the inside of the feet and\\nthe ankles, and not entirely with the soles of the feet.\\nWe have here waistcoats for swimming, which are\\nmade of double sailcloth, with small pieces of cork\\nqKiilted in between them.\\nI know nothing of the Seaphandre of M. de la Cha-\\np^lle.\\nI know by experience, that it is a great comfort to\\na swimmer, who has a considerable distance to go, to\\ntTirn himself sometimes on his back, and to vary, in\\nother respects, the means of procuring a progressive\\nOtotion.\\nWhen he is seized with the cramp in the leg, the\\nmethod of driving it away is to give to the parts affect-\\ned a sudden, vigorous, and violent shock; which he\\nway do in the air, as he swims on his back.\\nDuring the great heats of summer, there is no dan-\\nger of bathing, however warm we may be, in rivers\\nwhich have been thoroughly warmed by the sun. But\\nto throw one s self into cold spring water, when the\\nbody has been heated by exercise in the sun, is an im-\\nprudence which may prove fatal I once knew an in-\\nstance of four young men, who, having worked at har-\\nvest in the heat of the day, with a view of refreshing\\nthemselves, plunged into a spring of cold water: two\\ndied upon the spot a third the next morning, and the\\nfourth, recovered with great difficulty. A copious\\ndraught of cold water, in similar circumstances, ia\\nfrequently attended with the same effect, in North\\nAmerica.\\nThe exercise of swimming is one of the most healthy\\nwid agreeable in the world. After having swam for\\nan hour or two in the evening, one sleeps coolly the\\nwhole night, even during the most ardent heat of\\nsxmmaer. Perhaps the pores being cleansed, the insen-\\ndible perspiration increases, and occasions this cool-\\nness. It 18 certain that much swimming is the means\\nof stopping a diarrhoea, and even of producing a con-\\nAtipation. With respect to those who do not know how", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0279.jp2"}, "280": {"fulltext": "270 franklin s essays.\\nto swim, or who are affected with a diarrhoea at a\\nseason which does not permit them to use that exer-\\ncise, a warm bath, by cleansing and purifying the skin,\\nis found very salutary, and often effects a radical cure.\\nI speak from my own experience, frequently repeated,\\nand that of others to whom I have recommended this.\\nYou will not be displeased if I conclude these hasty\\nremarks by informing you, that as the ordinary method\\nof swimming is reduced to the act of rowing with the\\narms and legs, and is consequently a laborious and\\nfatiguing operation when the space of water to be\\ncrossed is considerable, there is a method in which a\\nswimmer may pass to a great distance with much fa-\\ncility, by means of a sail This discovery I fortunately\\nmade by accident, and in the following manner\\nWhen I was a boy, I amused myself one day with\\nflying a paper kite and approaching the bank of a\\npond, which was nearly a mile broad, I tied the string\\nto a stake, and the kite ascended to a very considera-\\nble height above the pond, while I was swimming. In\\na little time, being desirous of amusing myself with\\nmy kite, and enjoying at the same time the pleasure\\nof swimming, I returned, and loosing from the stake the\\nstring with the little stick which was fastened to it,\\nwent again into the water, where I found, that lying\\non my back,- and holding the stick in my hands, 1 was\\ndrawn along the surface of the water in a very agreea-\\nble manner. Having then engaged another boy to\\ncarry my clothes round the pond, to a place which I\\npointed out to him, on the other side, I began to cross\\nthe pond with my kite, which carried me quite over\\nwithout the least fatigue, and with the greatest pleas-\\nure imaginable. I was only obliged occasionally to\\nhalt a little in my course, and resist its progress, when\\nit appeared that, by following too quick, I lowered the\\nkite too much by doing which occasionally, I made it\\nrise again. I have never since that time practiced this\\nsingular mode \u00c2\u00a9f swimming, though I think it not im\\npossible to cross in this manner from Dover to Calais.\\nThe packet boat, however, is still preferable.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0280.jp2"}, "281": {"fulltext": "FRANKLIN S ESSAYS. 271\\nNEW MODE OF BATHING.\\nkxtbaots from a letter to m. duboueg.\\nLondon, Jult 28, 1768,\\nI GREATLY apppovc the epithets which you give in.\\nyour letter of the 8th of June, to the new method of\\ntreating the stnall-pox, which you call the tonic or bra-\\ncing method; I will take occasion from it, to mention a\\npractice to which I have accustomed myself. You\\nknow the cold bath has long been in vogue here as a\\ntonic but the shock of the cold water has always ap-\\npeared to me, generally speaking, as too violent, and I\\nhave found it much more agreeable to my constitution\\nto bathe in another element I mean cold air. With\\nthis view, I rise early almost every morning, and sit in\\nmy chamber without any clothes whatever, half an\\nhour or an hour, according to the season, either read-\\ning or writing. This practice is not in the least pain-\\nful, but, on the contrary, agreeable and if I return to\\nbed afterwards, before I dress myself, as it sometimes\\nhappens, I make a supplement to my night s rest of\\none or two hours of the most pleasing sleep that can\\nbe imagined. I find no ill consequences whatever re-\\nsulting from it^ and that at least it does not injure my\\nhealth, if it does not in fact contribute to its preserva-\\ntion. I shall therefore call it for the future a br icing\\nor tonic bath.**\\nON LUXURY, IDLENESS, AND INDUSTRY.\\nFr(Hn a letter to Bsnjamin Yaughak, Esq., Member of Parliamaot\\nfor the Borough of Cahie, U: Wiltshire, between whom and our\\nanther there sabsisted a vary oIom friendabip\u00e2\u0080\u0094 wrttten in 1781\\nIt is wonderful how preposterously the affairs of\\nthiii world Lire managed. Naturally one would ima", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0281.jp2"}, "282": {"fulltext": "272 franklin s essays.\\ngine, that the interest of a few individuals should give\\nway to general interest but individuals manage their\\naffairs with so much more application, industry, and\\naddress, than the public do theirs, that general interest\\nmost commonly gives way to particular. We assem-\\nble parliaments and councils, to have the benefit of\\ntheir collected wisdom but we necessarily have, at the\\nsame time, the inconvenience of their collected passions,\\nprejudices, and private interest. By the help of these,\\nartful men overpower their wisdom, and dupe its pos-\\nsessors; and if we may judge by the acts, arrets, and\\nedicts, all the world over, for regulating commerce, an\\nassembly of great men is the greatest fool on earth.\\nI have not yet, indeed, thought of a remedy, for lux-\\nury. I am not sure that, in a great state, it is capable\\nof a remedy nor that the evil is in itself always so\\ngreat as is represented. Suppose we include in the\\ndefinition of luxury all unnecessary expense, and then\\nlet us consider whether laws to prevent such expense\\nare possible to be executed in a great country, and\\nwhether, if they could be executed, our people gener-\\nally would be happier, or even richer. Is not the hope\\nof being one day able to purchase and enjoy luxuries, a\\ngreat spur to labor and industry May not luxury,\\ntherefore, produce more than it consumes, if, without\\nsuch a spur, people would be, as they are naturally\\nenough inclined to be, lazy and indolent To this pur-\\npose I remember a circumstance. The skipper of a\\nshallop, employed between Cape May and Philadelphia,\\nhad done us some small service, for which he refused\\nto be paid. My wife understanding that he had a\\ndaughter, sent her a present of a new-fashioned cap.\\nThree years after, this skipper being at my house with\\nan old farmer of Cape May, his passenger, he mentioned\\nthe cap, and how much his daughter had been pleased\\nwith it But (said he) it proved a dear cap to our\\ncongregation. How so f When my daughter\\nappeared with it at meeting, it was so much admired,\\nthat all the girls resolved to get such caps from Phila-\\ndelphia and my wife and I computed that the whole\\ncould not have cost less than a hundred pounds.\\n\u00e2\u0080\u00a2True, (said the farmer,) but you do not tell all tht", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0282.jp2"}, "283": {"fulltext": "FRANKLIN^S ESSAYS. 273\\nstory. I think the cap was nevertheless an advan-\\ntage to ns, for it was the first thing that pnt our girls\\nnpon knitting worsted mittens for sale at Philadelphia,\\nthat they might have wherewith to buy caps and rib-\\nbons there and you know that that industry has con-\\ntinued, and is likely to continue and increase to a much\\ngreater value, and answer better purposes. Upon the\\nwhole, I was more reconciled to this little piece of lux-\\nury, since not only the girls were made happier by\\nhaving fine caps, but the Philadelphians by the supply\\nof warm mittens.\\nIn our commercial towns upon the seacoast, fortunes\\nwill occasionally be made. Some of those who grow\\nrich will be prudent, live within bounds, and preserve\\nwhat they have gained, for their posterity; others,\\nfond of showing their wealth, will be extravagant, and\\nruin themselves. Laws cannot prevent this; and per-\\nhaps it is not always an evil to the public. A shilling\\nspent idly by a fool, may be picked up by a wiser per-\\nson, who knows better what to do with it. It is there-\\nfore not lost. A vain, silly fellow builds a fine house,\\nfurnishes it richly, lives in it expensively, and in a few\\nyears ruins himself; but the masons, carpenters, smiths,\\nand other honest tradesmen have been, by his employ,\\nassisted in maintaining and raising their families the\\nfarmer has been paid for his labor, and encouraged,\\nand the estate is now in better hands. In some cases,\\nindeed, certain modes of luxury may be a public evil,\\nin the same manner as it is a private one. If there be\\na nation, for instance, that exports its beef and linen,\\nto pay for the importation of claret and porter, while\\na great part of its people live upon potatoes, and wear\\nno shirts wherein does it dijBfer from the sot, who lets\\nhis family starve, and sells his clothes to buy drink\\nOur American commerce is, I confess, a little in this\\nway. We sell our victuals to the Islands, for rum and\\nsugar; the substantial necessaries of life for super-\\nfluities. But we have plenty and live well neverthe-\\nless though, by being soberer, we might be richer.\\nThe vast quantity of forest land we have yet to clear\\nAnd put in order for cultivation, will for a long time\\nkeep the body of our nation laboi-ious and frugal", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0283.jp2"}, "284": {"fulltext": "274 franklin s essays.\\nForming an opinion of our people and their manners\\nby what is seen among the inhabitants of the seaports,\\nis judging from an improper sample. The people of\\nthe trading towns may be rich and luxurious, while\\nthe country possesses all the virtues that tend to pro-\\nmote happiness and public prosperity. Those towns\\nare not much regarded by the country; they are hard-\\nly considered as an essential part of the states; and\\nthe experience of the last war has shown that their\\nbeing in the possession of the enemy did not necessa-\\nrily draw on the subjection of the country, which\\nbravely continued to maintain its freedom and inde-\\npendence notwithstanding.\\nIt has been computed by some political arithmeti-\\ncian that if every man and woman would work for\\nfour hours each day on something useful, that labor\\nwould produce sufficient to procure all the necessaries\\nand comforts of life; want and misery would be ban-\\nished out of the world, and the rest of the twenty-four\\nhours might be leisure and pleasure.\\nWhat occasions, then, so much want and misery\\nIt is the employment of men and women in works that\\nproduce neither the necessaries nor conveniences of life;\\nwho, with those who do nothing, consume necessaries\\nraised by the laborious. To explain this\\nThe first elements of wealth are obtained by labor,\\nfrom the earth and waters. I have land, and raise\\ncorn. With this, if I feed a family that does nothing,\\nmy corn will be consumed, and at the end of the year\\nI shall be no richer than I was at the beginning. But\\nif, while I feed them, I employ them, some at spinning,\\nothers in making bricks, c., for building, the value of\\nmy corn will be arrested and remain with me, and at\\nthe end of the year we all may be better clothed and\\nbetter lodged. And if, instead of employing a man I\\nfeed in making bricks, I employ him in fiddling for\\nme, the corn he eats is gone, and no part of his man-\\nufacture remains to augment the wealth and conve-\\nnience of the family. I shall, therefore, be the poorer\\nfor this fiddling man, unless the rest of my family\\nwork more, or eat less, to make up the deficiency he\\noccasions.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0284.jp2"}, "285": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 275\\nLook around the world and see the millions em-\\nployed in doing nothing, or something that amounts\\nto nothing, when the necessaries and conveniences of\\nlife are in question. What is the bulk of commerce,\\nfor which we fight and destroy each other, but the\\ntoil of millions for superfluities, to the great hazard and\\nloss of many lives, by the constant danger of the sea\\nHow much labor is spent in building and fitting great\\nships, to go to China and Arabia for tea and coffee,\\nto the West Indies for sugar, to America for tobacco f\\nThese things cannot be f.alled the necessaries of life,\\nfor our ancestors lived very comfortably without them.\\nA question may be asked Could all these people\\nnow employed in raising, making, or carrying super-\\nfluities, be subsisted by raising necessaries? I think\\nthey might. The world is large, and a great part of\\nit still uncultivated. Many hundred millions of acres\\nin Asia, Africa, and America, are still in a forest; and\\na great deal even in Europe. On a hundred acres of\\nthis forest a man might become a substantial farmer\\nand a hundred thousand men employed in clearing\\neach his hundred acres, would hardly brighten a spot\\nlarge enough to be visible from the moon, unless with\\nHerschel s telescope so vast are the regions still in\\nwood.\\nIt is, however, some comfort to reflect that, upon the\\nwhole, the quantity of industry and prudence among\\nmankind exceeds the quantity of idleness and folly.\\nHence the increase of good buildings, farms cultivated,\\nand populous cities filled with wealth, all over Europe,\\nwhich a few ages since were only to be found on the\\ncoast of the Mediterranean and this, notwithstanding\\nthe mad wars continually raging, by which are often\\ndestroyed, in one year, the works of many years\\npeace. So that we may hope, the luxury of a few\\nmerchants on the coast will not be the ruin of America.\\nOne reflection more, and I will end this long, ram-\\nbling letter. Almost all the parts of our bodies re-\\nquire some expense. The feet demand shoes; the legs\\nstockings; the rest of the body clothing and the belly\\na good deal of victuals. Our eyes, though exceedingly\\nnseful, ask, when reasonable, only the cheap assistaucf", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0285.jp2"}, "286": {"fulltext": "276 franklin s essays.\\nof spectacles, which could not much impair our finan-\\nces. But the eyes of other people are the eyes that\\nruin us. K all but myself were blind, I should want\\nneither fine clothes, fine houses, nor fine furniture.\\nREMARKS CONCERNING THE SAVAGES\\nOF NORTH AMERICA-\\nSAVAGES we call them, because their manners differ\\nfrom ours, which we think the perfection of civility\\nthey think the same of theirs.\\nPerhaps, if we could examine the manners of differ-\\nent nations with impartiality, we should find no peo-\\nple so rude as to be without any rules of politeness;\\nnor any so polite as not to have some remains of rudeness.\\nThe Indian men, when young, are hunters and war^\\nriors; when old, counselors for all their government\\nis by the counsel or advice of the sages there is no\\nforce, there are no prisons, no officers to compel obedi-\\nence, or inflict punishment. Hence they generally\\nstudy oratory the best speaker having the most influ-\\nence. The Indian women till the ground, dress the\\nfood, nurse and bring up the children, and preserve,\\nand hand down to posterity the memory of public\\ntransactions. These employments of men and women\\nare accounted natural and honorable. Having few ar-\\ntificial wants, they have abundance of leisure for im-\\nprovement in conversation. Our laborious manner of\\nlife, compared with theirs, they esteem slavish and\\nbase and the learning on which we value ourselves,\\nthey regard as frivolous and useless. An instance of\\nthis occurred at the treaty of Lancaster, in Pennsylva-\\nnia, anno 1744, between the government of Virginia\\nand the Six Nations. After the principal business waa\\nsettled, the commissioners from Virginia acquainted\\nthe Indiana by a speech, that there was at Williams-\\nburg a college, with a fund, for educating Indian\\nyouth and that if the chiefs of the Six Nations would\\nsend down half a dozen ol* their sous to that eolleg\u00e2\u0082\u00ac^", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0286.jp2"}, "287": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 277\\nthe government would take care that they should be\\nwell provided for, and instructed in all the learning of\\nthe white people. It is one of the Indian rules of po-\\nliteness not to answer a public proposition the same\\nday that it is made they think that it would be treat-\\ning it as a light matter, and they show it respect by\\ntaking time to consider it, as of a matter inportant.\\nThey therefore deferred their answer till the day fol-\\nlowing; when their speaker began by expressing their\\ndeep sense of the kindness of the Virginia government,\\nin making them that offer For we know, says he,\\nthat you highly esteem the kind of learning taught\\nin those colleges, and that the maintenance of our\\nyoung men while with you, would be very expensive\\nto you. We are convinced, therefore, that you mean\\nto do us good by your proposal; and we thank you\\nheartily. But you, who are wise, must know, that dif-\\nferent nations have different conceptions of things\\nand you will therefore not take it amiss, if our ideas of\\nthis kind of education happen not to be the same with\\nyours. We have had some experience of it several of\\nour young people were formerly brought up at the col-\\nleges of the northern provinces they were instructed\\nin all your sciences but when they came back to us\\nthey were bad runners; ignorant of every means of\\nliving in the woods unable to bear either cold or hun-\\nger; knew neither how to build a cabin, take a deer,\\nor kill an enemy spoke our language imperfectly\\nwere therefore neither fit for hunters, warriors, nor\\ncounselors; they were totally good for nothing. We\\nare not, however, the less obliged by your kind offer,\\nthough we decline accepting it; and to show our grate-\\nful sense of it, if the gentlemen of Virginia will send u\u00c2\u00ab\\na dozen of their sons, we will take great care of their\\neducation, instruct them in all we know, and make\\nmen of them.\\nHaving frequent occasions to hold public counsels,\\nthey have acquired great order and decency in con-\\nducting them. The old men sit in the foremost ranks,\\nthe warriors in tlae next, and the women and children\\nin the hindmost. The business of the women is to tak\u00c2\u00ab\\nexact notice of what passes, imprint it in their memo-", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0287.jp2"}, "288": {"fulltext": "278 franklin s essays.\\nries, for they have no writing, and communicate it to\\nthe children. They are the records of the council, and\\nthey preserve tradition of the stipulations in treaties a\\nhundred years back which, when we compare with\\nour writings, we always find exact He that would\\nepeak, rises. The rest observe a profound silence.\\nWhen he has finished, and aits down, they leave him\\nfive or six minutes to recollect, that if he nas omitted\\nanything he intended to say, or has anything to add,\\nhe may rise again and deliver it. To interrupt another,\\neven in common conversation, is reckoned highly inde-\\ncent. How different this is from the conduct of a po-\\nlite British house of commons, where scarce a day\\nE asses without some confusion, that makes the speaker\\noarse in calling to order and how difi^erent from the\\nmode of conversation, in many polite companies of\\nEurope, where, if you do not deliver your sentences\\nwith great rapidity, you are cut off in the middle of it\\nby the impatient loquacity of those you converse with,\\nand never suffered to finish it\\nThe politeness of these savages in conversation is in-\\ndeed carried to excess since it does not permit them\\nto contradict or deny the truth of what is asserted in\\ntheir presence. By this means they indeed avoid dis-\\nputes; but then it becomes difficult to know their minds,\\nor what impression you make upon them. The mis\\nsionaries, who have attempted to convert them to\\nChristianity, all complain of this as one of the great\\ndifficulties of their mission. The Indians hear with\\npatience the truths of the Gospel explained to them,\\nand give their usual tokens of assent and approbation\\nyou would think they were convinced. No such mat-\\nter it is mere civiUty.\\nA Swedish minister, having assembled the chiefs of\\nthe Susquehannah Indiam^ made a sermon to them, ac-\\nquainting them with the principal historical facts on\\nwhich our religion is founded such as the fall of our\\nfirst parents by eating an apple the coming of Christ\\nto repair the mischief; his miracles, and sufferings,\\nbc When he had finished, an Indian orator stood up\\nto thank him. What you have told us, says he, i\u00c2\u00bb\\nall very good. It is indeed bad to eat apples. It ii", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0288.jp2"}, "289": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 270\\nbetter, to make them all into cider. We are much\\nobliged by your kindness in coming so far to tell na\\nthose things which yon have heard from your mothers.\\nIn return, I will tell you some of those which we have\\nheard from ours.\\nIn the beginning, our fathers had only the flesh of\\nanimals to subsist on and if their hunting was unsuc-\\ncessful, they were starving. Two of our young hunt-\\ners having killed a deer, made a fire in the woods to\\nbroil some parts of it. When they were about to sat-\\nisfy their hunger, they beheld a beautiful young wo-\\nman descend from the clouds, and seat herself on that\\nhill which you see yonder among the blue mountains.\\nThey said to each other, it is a spirit that perhaps\\nsmelt our broiled venison, and wishes to eat of it let\\nus offer some to her. They presented her with the\\ntongue she was pleased with the taste of it, and said,\\n*Your kindness shall be rewarded. Come to this\\nplace after thirteen moons, and you shall find some-\\nthing that will be of great benefit in nourishing you\\nand your children to the latest generation.* They did\\nso, and to their surprise, found plants they had never\\nseen before but which, from that ancient time, have\\nbeen constantly cultivated among us, to our great ad-\\nvantage. Where her right hand had touched the\\nground, they found maize where her left hand had\\ntouched it, they found kidney-beans and where her\\nbackside had sat on it, they found tobacco. The good\\nmissionary, disgusted with this idle tale, said, What\\nI delivered to you were sacred truths but what you\\ntell me is mere fable, fiction, and falsehood. The In-\\ndian, offended, replied, My brother, it seems your\\nfriends have not done you justice in your education\\nthey have not well instructed you in the rules of com-\\nmon civility. You see that we, who understand and\\npractice those rules, believed all your stories; why do\\nyou refuse to believe ours\\nWhen any of them come into your towns, your\\npeople are apt to crowd round them, gaze upon them,\\nand incommode them where they desire to be private\\nthis they esteem great rudeness, and the effect of the\\nwant oi instruction in the rules of civility and good", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0289.jp2"}, "290": {"fulltext": "280 FRANKLINS ESSAiA\\nmanners. We have, say they, as much curiosity\\nas yon, and when you come into our towns, we wisn\\nfor opportunities for looking at you but for this pur\\npose we hide ourselves behind bushes, where yon are\\nto pass, and never intrude ourselves into your com\\npany.\\nTheir manner of entering one another s villages hat\\nlikewise its rules. It is reckoned uncivil in traveling\\nstrangers to enter a village abruptly, without giving\\nnotice of their approach. Therefore, as soon as they\\narrive within hearing, they stop and halloo, remaining\\nthere till invited to enter. Two old men usually come\\nout to them, and lead them in. There is in every vil-\\nlage a vacant dwelling, called the stranger s house.\\nHere they are placed, while the old men go round\\nfrom hut to hut, acquainting the inhabitants that stran-\\ngers are arrived, who are probably hungry and weary,\\nand every one sends them what he can spare of vict-\\nuals, and skins to repose on. When the strangers are\\nrefreshed, pipes and tobacco are brought; and then,\\nbut not before, conversation begins, with inquiries who\\nthey are, whither bound, what news, fec., and it usu-\\nally ends with offers of service, if the strangers have\\noccasion for guides, or any necessaries for continuing\\ntheir journey and nothing is exacted for the enter-\\ntainment.\\nThe same hospitality, esteemed among them as a\\nprincipal virtue, is practiced by private persons of\\nwhich, Conrad WeiseVy our interpreter, gave me the\\nfollowing instance. He had been naturalized among\\nthe Six Nations, and spoke well the Mohock language.\\nIn going through the Indian country to carry a mes-\\nsage from our governor to the council at Onondaga, he\\ncalled at the habitation of Canassettego, an old acquaint-\\nance, who embraced him, spread furs for him to sit on,\\nplaced before him some boiled beans and venison, and\\nmixed some rum and water for his drink. When he\\nwas well refreshed, and had lit his pipe, Oanassettego\\nbegan to converse with him asked him how he had\\nfared the many years since they had seen each other,\\nwhence he then came, what occasioned the journey,\\ndtc. Conrad answered all his questions; and when", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0290.jp2"}, "291": {"fulltext": "FRANKLIN S ESSAYS. 281\\nthe disoonrse began to flag, the Indian, to continne it^\\n\u00e2\u0080\u00a2aid-^\\nConrad, you have lived long among the white peo-\\nple, and know something of their customs. I have\\nbeen sometimes at Albany, and have observed, that\\nonce in seven days they shut up their shops and a\u00c2\u00bb\\nsemble all in the great house; tell me what it is fori\\nWhat do they do there? They meet there, says\\nConrad, to hear and learn good thingsJ I do not\\ndoubt, says the Indian, that they tell you so they\\nhave told me the same but I doubt the truth of what\\nthey say, and I will tell you my reasons. I went\\nlately to Albany to sell my skins, and buy blankets,\\nknives, powder, rum, fec You know I used generally\\nto deal with Hans Hanson but I was a little inclined\\nthis time to try some other merchants. However, I\\ncalled first upon Hans, and asked him what he would\\ngive for beaver. He said he could not give more than\\nfour shillings a pound but said he, I cannot talk on\\nbusiness now this is the day when we meet together\\nto learn good things^ and I am going to the meeting.\\nSo I thought to myself, since I cannot do any business\\nto-day, I may as well go to the meeting too, and I went\\nwith him. There stood up a man in black, and began\\nto talk to the people very angrily. I did not under-\\nstand what he said; but perceiving that he looked\\nmuch at me and at Hanson, I imagined that he was an-\\ngry at seeing me there so I went out, sat down near\\nthe house, struck fire, and lit my pipe, waiting till the\\nmeeting should break up. I thought, too, that the man\\nhad mentioned something of beaver; and I suspected\\nit might be the subject of their meeting. So when\\nthey came out, I accosted my merchant, Well, Hans,\\n(says I,) I hope you have agreed to give more than four\\nshillings a pound. No,* says he, *I cannot give so\\nmuch I cannot give more than tliree shillings and\\nsixpence.* I then spoke to several other dealers, but\\nthey all sung the same song, three and sixpence, three\\nand sixpence. This made it clear to me that my su\u00c2\u00bb\u00c2\u00bb\\npicion was right and that, whatever they pretended\\nof meeting to learn good things, the real purpose wu\\nto consult how to cheat Indians in the price of beaver.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0291.jp2"}, "292": {"fulltext": "282 franklin s essays.\\nConsider but a little, Conrad, and you must be of my\\nopinion. If they met so often to learn good things,\\nthey would certainly have learned some before this\\ntime. But they are still ignorant. You know our\\npractice If a white man, in traveling through our\\ncountry, enters one of our cabins, we all treat him as I\\ndo you we dry him if he is wet, we warm him if he\\nis cold, and give him meat and drink, that he may al-\\nlay his thirst and hunger and we spread soft furs for\\nhim to rest and sleep on we demand nothing in re-\\nturn.* But if I go into a white man s house at Albany,\\nand ask for victuals and drink, they say, Where is your\\nmoney I And if I have none, they say. Get out you\\nIndian dog. You see that they have not learned those\\nlittle good things that we need no meetings to be in-\\nstructed in, because our mothers taught them us when\\nwe were children and therefore it is impossible their\\nmeetings should be, as they say, for any such purpose,\\nor have any such effect the^ are only to contrive the\\ncheating of Indians in the price of beaver.\\nPOSITIONS TO BE EXAMINED.\\n1. All food, or Bubsistence for mankind, arises from\\nthe earth or waters.\\n2. Necessaries of life that are not foods, and all\\nother conveniences, have their value estimated by the\\nproportion of food consumed while we are employed in\\nprocuring them.\\n3. A small people with a large territory, may subsist\\nIt Is remarkable that In all ages and coantrlee, hospitality haa\\nbeen allowed as the virtue of those, whom the civilized wero pleased\\nto call barbarians; the Greek* celebrated the Scythians tor it; the\\nSaracens possessed it eminently and it is to this day tlu^ reigning\\nvirtue of the wild Arabs. 8L Paul, too, in the relation of his voy-\\nage and shipwreck, on the Island of Melita, says, The barbarous\\npeople showed us no little kindness for they kJLndled a fire, and re-\\nceived us every one, because of the present rain, and becau e of the\\ncold. This note is taken from a small collection of Franklin s pa-\\npers printed for Dilly.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0292.jp2"}, "293": {"fulltext": "frankijn s essays. 283\\non the pw)dtictions of Feature, with no other labor than\\nthat of gathering tb\u00c2\u00ab vegetables and catching the\\nanimals.\\n4. A large people, rith a small territory, find these\\ninsnABcient; and, to subsist, must labor the earth, to\\nmake it produce gr\u00c2\u00ab4iter quantities of vegetable food,\\nsuitable to the nourishment of men, and of the animals\\nthey intend to eat.\\n5. From this labor arises a great increase of vegeta-\\nble and animal food, and of materials for clothing as\\nflax, wool, silk, \u00c2\u00abkc. The superfluity of these is wealth.\\nWith this wealth we pay for the labor employed in\\nbuilding our houses, cities, Ac, which are therefore\\nonly subsistence thus metamorphosed.\\n6. Manufactures are only another shape into which\\nso much provisions and subsistence are turned, as were\\nin value equal to the manufactures produced. It ap\\npears from hence, that the manufacturer does not, in\\nfact, obtain from the employer, for his labor, more than\\na mere subaistence, including raiment, fuel, and shel-\\nter all of which derive their value from the provis-\\nions consumed in procuring them.\\n7. The produce of the earth, thus converted into\\nmanufactures, may be more easily carried into distant\\nmarket*, than before such conversion.\\n8. Fair commerce is where equal values are exchanged\\nfor equal, the expense of transport included. Thus,\\nif it cost A in England as much labor and charge to\\nraise a bushel of wheat, as it cost B in France to pro-\\nduce four gallons of wine, then are four gallons of\\nwine the fair exchange for a bushel of wheat A and\\nB meeting at a half distance with commodities to make\\nthe exchange. The advantage of this fair commerce\\nis, that each party increases the number of his enjoy-\\nments, having, instead of wheat alone, or wine alone,\\nthe use of both wheat and wine.\\n9. Where the labor and expense of producing both\\ncommodities are known to both parties, bargains will\\ngenerally be fair and equal. Where they are known\\nt\u00c2\u00bb\u00c2\u00bb one party only, bargains will often be unequal\\nknowledge taking its advantage of ignorance.\\n10. Thus he that carries a thousand bushels of wheat", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0293.jp2"}, "294": {"fulltext": "284s franklin s essays.\\nabroad to sell, may not probably make so great m\\nprofit thereon as if he had nrst turned the wheat into\\nmanufactures, by subsisting therewith the workmen\\nwhile producing those manufactures, since there are\\nmany expediting and facilitating methods of working,\\nnot generally known and strangers to the manufac-\\ntures, though they know pretty well the expense of\\nraising wheat, are unacquainted with those short meth-\\nods of working; and thence, being apt to suppose\\nmore labor employed in the manufacture than there\\nreally is, are more easily imposed on in their value,\\nand induced to allow more for them than they are hon-\\nestly worth.\\n11. Thus the advantage of having manufactures in a\\ncountry does not consist, as is commonly supposed, in\\ntheir highly advancing the value of rough materials of\\nwliich they are formed, since, though sixpenny worth\\nof flax may be worth twenty shillings when worked\\ninto lace, yet the very cause of its being worth twenty\\nshillings is that, besides the flax, it has cost nineteen\\nshillings and sixpence in subsistence to the manufac-\\nturer. But the advantage of manufactures is, that un-\\nder their shape, provisions may be more easily carried\\nto a foreign market and by their means our traders\\nmay more easily cheat strangers. Few, where it is\\nnot made, are judges of the value of lace. The im-\\nporter may demand forty, and perhaps get thirty shil-\\nlings for that which cost him but twenty.\\n12. Finally, there seems to be but three ways for a\\nnation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the\\nRomans did, in plundering their conquered neighbors\\nthis is robbery. The second by commerce, which is\\ngenerally cheating. The third by agriculture, the\\nonly honest way, wherein a man receives a real in\\ncrease of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of\\ncontinual miracle, wrought by the hand of God in hig\\nfavor, as a reward for his innocent life and his virtuoui\\nindustry.\\nF ANKLOr.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0294.jp2"}, "295": {"fulltext": "frakbuk b essays. 285\\nPRELIMINARY ADDRESS\\nTO THE PENNSYLVANIA ALMANAC,\\nsKirrucD, POOR riohaed s almanac, for the ybar 17^8.*\\nI HAYS heard that nothing gives an author so much\\npleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by\\nother learned authors. This pleasure I have seldom\\nenjoyed; for though I have been, if I may say it with-\\nout vanity, an eminent author (of almanacs) annually,\\nnow a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in\\nthe same way, (for what reason I know not,) have ever\\n\\\\^^eu very sparing in their applauses and no other\\nauthor has taken the least notice of me; so that, did\\nnot my writings produce me some solid pudding, the\\ngreat deficiency of praise would have quite discour-\\naged me.\\nI concluded, at length, that the people were the best\\njudges of my merit, for they buy my works and be-\\nsides, in my rambles, where I am not personally known,\\nI have frequently heard one and another of my adages\\nrepeated, with As Poor Richard says, at the end on*t.\\nThis gave me some satisfaction, as it showed not only\\nthat my instructions were regarded, but discovered\\nlikewise some respect for my authority and I own,\\nthat to encourage the practice of remembering and re-\\npeating those wise sentences, I have sometimes quoted\\nmyself with great gravity.\\nJudge, then, how much I have been gratified by an\\nincident which I am going to relate to yoxL I stopped\\nmy horse lately, where a great number of people were\\ncollected at an auction of merchants goods. The hour\\nof sale not being come, they were conversing on the\\nbadness of the times and one of the company called\\nto a plain, clean old man, with white locks, Pray,\\nFather Abraham, what think ye of the times f Won t\\nthese heavy taxes quite ruin the country f How shall\\nwe ever be able to pay them I What would you ad", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0295.jp2"}, "296": {"fulltext": "286 frao-^klin^s essays.\\nvise us to? Fathir Abraham stood up and rrpllecr,\\nIf you d have my liivice, Fll give it to you in short\\nfor a word to the wise is enough and many words\\nwon t fill a bushel,* as Poor Richard says. They\\njoined in desiring him to speak his mind and gather*\\nmg round him, he proceeded as follows\\nFriends (says he) and neighbors, the taxes are in-\\ndeed very heavy; and if those laid on by government\\nwere the only ones we had to pay, we might more ea-\\nsily discharge them, but we have many others, and\\nmuch more grievous to some of us. We are taxed\\ntwice as much by our idleness, three times as much by\\nour pride, and four times as much by our folly, and\\nfrom these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or de-\\nliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let ns\\nhearken to good advice, and something may be done\\nfor us. God helps them that help themselves, a\u00c2\u00ab\\nPoor Richard says in his almanac.\\nIt would be thought a hard government that should\\ntax its people one-tenth part of their time, to be em-\\nployed in its service but idleness taxes many of us\\nmuch more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute\\nsloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is spent in\\nidle employments, or amusements that amount to noth-\\ning. Sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely short-\\nens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor\\nwears, while the key often used is always bright,* as\\nPoor Richard says. But dost thou love life then do\\nnot squander time, for that s the stuflf life is made of,*\\nas Poor Richard says. How much more than is neces-\\nsary do we spend in sleep, forgetting that *the sleeping\\nfox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping\\nenough in the grave, as Poor Richard says. If time\\nbe of all things the most precious, wasting time must\\nbe (as Poor Richard says) the greatest prodigality\\nsince, as he elsewhere tells us, Lost time is never\\nfound again and what we call time enough, always\\nproves little enough. Let us then up and be doing,\\nand doing to the purpose so by diligence shall we do\\nmore with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things\\ndifficult, but industry all easy, as Poor Richard says\\nand he that riseth late must trot all day, and shall", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0296.jp2"}, "297": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 287\\nscarce overtake his business at night; while lazinesa\\ntravels 80 slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him,\\nas we read in Poor Richard who adds, Drive thy\\nbusiness, let not that drive thee and, early to beo,\\nand early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and\\nwise.*\\nSo what signifies wishing and hoping for better\\ntimes I We make these times better if we bestir our-\\nselves. Industry needs not wish, as Poor Richard\\nsays and He that lives upon hope will die fasting.*\\nThere are no gains without pains then help hands,\\nfor I have no lands; or if I have, they are smartly\\ntaxed; and, (as Poor Richard likewise observes,) He\\nthat hath a trade, hath an estate, and he that hath a\\ncalling hath an office of profit and honor but then\\nthe trade must be worked at, and the calling well fol-\\nlowed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable\\nus to pay our taxes. If we are industrious we shall\\nnever starve for, as Poor Richard says, At the work-\\ningman s house hunger looks in, but dare not enter.*\\nKor will the bailiff or the constable enter for, Indus-\\ntry pays debts, but despair increaseth them, says Poor\\nRichard. What thougn you have found no treasure,\\nnor has any rich relation left you a legacy? Dili-\\ngence is the mother of good luck,* as Poor Richard\\nsays and God gives all things to industry then\\nplow deep while sluggards sleep, and you will have\\ncorn to sell and keep, says Poor Dick. Work while it\\nis called to-day; for you know not how much you\\nmay be hindered to-morrow which makes Poor Rich-\\nard say, *One to-day is worth two to-morrows; and\\nfarther, Have you somewhat to do to-morrow, do it\\nto-day. If you were a servant^ would you not be\\nashamed that a good master should catch you idle t\\nAre you then your own master, be ashamed to catch\\nyourself idle,* as Poor Dick says. When there is so\\nmuch to be done for yourself, your family, and your\\ngracious king, be up by peep of day Let not the sun\\nlook down, and say. Inglorious here he lies Handle\\nyour tools without mittens remember, that the cat\\nin gloves catches no mice, as Poor Richard says. U is\\ntrue, there is much to be done, and perhaps you are", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0297.jp2"}, "298": {"fulltext": "288 franklin s essays.\\nweak-handed but stick to it steadily and you will see\\ngreat eflfects; for, continual dropping wears away\\nstones, and by diligence and patience the mouse ate\\ninto the cable, and light strokes fell great oaks,* as Poor\\nRichard says in his almanac, the year I cannot just\\nnow remember.\\nMethinks I hear some of you say, Must a man af-\\nford himself no leisure ^I will tell thee, my friend,\\nwhat Poor Richard says; Employ thy time well, if\\nthou meanest to gain leisure; and since thou art not\\nsure of a minute, throw not away an hour. Leisure\\nis time for doing something useful this leisure the dili-\\ngent man will obtain, but the lazy man never so that,\\nas Poor Richard says, *A life of leisure and a life of\\nlaziness are two things. Do you imagine that sloth\\nwill afford you more comfort than labor f No for, as\\nPoor Richard says, Troubles spring from idleness, and\\ngrievous toils from needless ease many without labor\\nwould live by their own wits only but they break for\\nwant of stock. Whereas industry gives comfort, and\\nplenty, and respect. *Fly pleasures, and they ll fol-\\nlow you the diligent spinner has a large shift and,\\nnow I have a sheep and cow, everybody bids me good-\\nmorrow all which is well said by Poor Richard.\\nBut with our industry, we must likewise be steady\\nand settled and careful, and oversee our own affairs\\nwith our own eyes, and not trust too much to othen;\\nfor, as Poor Richard says,\\nI never saw an oft-removed tree^\\nNor yet an oft-removed family.\\nThat throve so well as one that settled bei*\\nAnd again, Three removes are as bad as a fire and\\nagain, *Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee;\\nand again, If you would have your business done, go;\\nif not, send. And again,\\nHe that by the plew would thrive^\\nHimself most either hold or drive.*\\nAnd again, The eye of the master will do more work\\nthan both his hands and again, Want of care doet", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0298.jp2"}, "299": {"fulltext": "ESSAYS. 289\\na\u00c2\u00bb more damage than want of knowldege and again,\\nNot to oversee workmen, is to leave them your purse\\nopen Trusting too much to others care, is the ruin\\nof many; for, as the almanac says, in the affairs of the\\nworld, Men are saved not by faith, but by the want\\nof it but a man s own care is profitable; for, saith\\nPoor Dick, Learning is to the studious, and riches to\\nthe careful, as well as power to the bold, and heaven\\nto the virtuous. And farther, If you would have a\\nfaithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself\\nAnd again, he adviseth to circumspection and care,\\neven in the smallest matters, because sometimes, A\\nlittle neglect ma} breed great mischief; adding, For\\nwant of a nail the shoe was lost for want of a shoe\\nthe horse was lost and for want of a horse the rider\\nwa:^ lost; being overtaken and slain by the enemy\u00e2\u0080\u0094 all\\nfoi vzant of care about a horse-shoe nail.\\nSo much for industr} my friends, and attention tc^\\none s own business; but to these we must add frugal-\\nity, if we would make our iniustry more certainly suc-\\nCfcSciQl. A man may, if he knows not how to save a^\\nhe ^ets, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone,\\nan^ die not worth a groat at last. A fat kitchen\\nmaies a lean will, as Poor Richard sa3 s, and\\nMany estates M-e spent in the getting\\nSince -women for tea forsook spinning and knitting,\\nAnd men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.\\nIf you would be wealthy, (says he, in another al\\nmanac) think of saving as well as getting the Indies\\nhave not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are\\ngreater than her incomes.\\nAway then with your expensive follies, and you\\nwiU not have much cause to complain of hard timea,\\nheavy taxes, and chargeable families for, as Poor Dick\\nBaya,\\nWomen nd wine, game and deceit\\nii ke the wealth small, and the want great*\\nAnd, farther, *What maintains one vice wou^d\\nbring up two children. You may think, perhaps,\\nthat a little tea or a little punch now and then, diet a\\n19 Franklin", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0299.jp2"}, "300": {"fulltext": "290 franklin s essays\\nUtLle more costly, clothes a little finer, and a little en\\ntertainment now and then, can be no great matter; but\\nremember what Poor Richard sa3 s, Many a little\\nmakes a meikle and, farther, Beware of little ex-\\npense; a small leak will sink a great ship; and again,\\nWho dainties love shall beggars prove* and more-\\nover, Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.\\nHere you are all got together at this sale of fine\\nries and nicknacks. You call them goods; but if you\\ndo not take care, they will prove evils to some of you.\\nYou expect they will be sold cheap, and perhaps they\\nmay for less than they cost but if you have no occa\\nsion for them they must be dear to you. Remember\\nwhat Poor Richard says, Buy what thou hast no need\\nof, and erelong thou shalt sell thy necessaries. And\\nagain, *At a great pennyworth, pause awhile. He\\nmeans, that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, or\\nnot real or the bargain, by straitening thee in thy\\nbusiness, may do thee more harm than good. For in\\nanother place he says, Many have been ruined by\\nbuying good pennyworths. Again, as Poor Richard\\nsays, It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of\\nrepentance/ and yet this folly is practiced evey day at\\nauctions, for want of minding the almanac. Wise\\nmen (as Poor Dick saj s) learn by others harms, fools\\nscarcely by their own but Felix qiiera factunt aliena\\npericula cautum. Many a one for the ?ake of finery\\non the back, have gone with a hungry belly, and half\\nstarved their families: Silks and satins, scarlet and\\nvelvets, (as Poor Richard says,) put out the kitchen\\nfire. These are not the necessaries of life they can\\nscarcely be called the conveniences and yet only be\\ncause they look pretty, how many want to have them\\nThe artificial wants of mankind thus become more nu\\nmef ous than the natural and, as Poor Dick says, For\\none poor person there are a hundred indigent By\\nthese and other extravagances, the genteel are reduced\\nto poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they\\nformerly despised, but who, through industry and fru\\ngality, nave maintained their standing in which case,\\nit appears plainly, A plowman on his legs is higher\\nthan a gentleman on his knees, as Poor Richard says", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0300.jp2"}, "301": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 291\\nPernap3 they have nad small estate left tbem, wflich\\nthey knew not the getting of; they think, It is day,\\nand will never be night*/ that a little to be spent out\\nof sc much is not worth minding A child and a foci\\n(as Poor Richard says) imagine twenty shillings and\\ntwenty years can never be spent but always be ta-\\nking out of the meal-tub and never be putting in, soon\\n3ome9 to the bottom; then, as Poor Dick says, When\\nohe well is dry^ they know the worth of water/ But\\nthis they might have known before, if they had taken\\nhis advice. If you would know the value of money^\\ngo and try to borrow some for he that goes a-borrow-\\ning goes a -sorrowing; and, indeed, so does he that\\nlends to such people, when he goes to get it again.\\nPoor Dick farther advises, and says,\\nFond pride of dress is sure a very our8\u00c2\u00ab\\nEie fancy you consult, consult your purse\\nAnd again, Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a\\ntreat deal more saucy When you have bought one\\nne thing, you must buy ten more, that your appear-\\nance may be all of a piece but Poor Dick says, It is\\neasier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all\\nthat follow it. And, it is as truly folly for the poor to\\nape the rich, as the frog to swell, in order to equal th\u00c2\u00ab\\nox.\\nVosftels large may venture more,\\nBut little boats should keep near abor\u00c2\u00ab.\\n*Ti8, however, a folly soon punished; for, Pride that\\ndinea on vanity, sups on contempt, as Poor Richard\\nsays. And, in another place, Pride breakfasted with\\nPlenty, dined with Poverty, and supped with Infamy.\\nAnd after all of what use is this pride of appearanofc\\nfor which so much is risked, so much is suffered f It\\ncannot promote health, or ease pain it makes no in-\\ncrease of merit in the person; it creates qhtj; i%\\nhastens ulisfortune.\\nWhAt Is a butterfly at I e8t,\\nHe s but a oater[\u00c2\u00bbiiiar (ireas d\\nThe gaudy fop s his picture just.\\nPoor Richard says.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0301.jp2"}, "302": {"fulltext": "292 FRANKLIN S ESSAYS.\\nBut what madness must it be to run in debt for\\nthose superfluities we are offered by the terms of this\\nsale six months credit, and that perhaps has induced\\nsome of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the\\nready money, and hope now to be fine without it.\\nBut ah I think what you do when you run in debt\\nYou give to another p /wer over your liberty. If you\\ncannot pay at the time, yDU will be ashamed to see\\nyour creditor you will be in fear when you speak to\\nhim; you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses,\\nand by degrees come to lose your veracity, and sink\\ninto base, downright lying for as Poor Richard Sc,ys,\\n*The second vice is lying the first is running in debt^\\nAnd again, to the same purpose, Lying rides upon\\ndebt s back; whereas a freeborn Englishman ought\\nnot to be ashamed nor afraid to speak to any man liv-\\ning. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit\\nand virtue It is hard for an empty bag to stand up-\\nright,* as Poor Richard truly says. What would you\\nthink of that prince, or that government, who would\\nissue an edict, forbidding you to dress like a gentle-\\nman or a gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or\\nservitude would you not say that you were free, have\\na right to dress as you please, and that such n edict\\nwould be a breach of your privileges, and such a gov-\\nernment tyrannical And yet you are a.bout to put\\nyourself under that tyranny when you run in debt for\\nsuch dress Your creditor has authority at his pleas-\\nure, to deprive you of your liberty, by confinii g you\\nin jail, for life, or by selling you for a servant, if you\\nshould not be able to pay him. When you have got\\nyour bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of pay-\\nment but, Creditors (Poor Richard tells us) have bet-\\nter memories than debtors and in another place h^\\nsays, Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observ-\\ners of set days and times. The day comes round be-\\nfore you are aware, and the demand is made before\\nyou are prepared to satisfy it. Or if you bear your\\ndebt in mind, the term which at first seemed sc long,\\nwill, as it lessens, appear extremely short. Time will\\nseem to have added wings to his heels as well as at\\nhiA shoulders. Those have a short Lent (saith Poor", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0302.jp2"}, "303": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 293\\nRichard) who owe money to be paid at Easter. Then\\nsince; as he says, The borrower is a slave to the lend-\\ner, and the debtor to the creditor;* disdain the chain,\\npreserve your freedom, and maintain your independ-\\nency: be industrious and free; be frugal and free. At\\npresent, perhaps, you may think yourselves in thriving\\ncircumstances, and that you can bear a little extrava-\\ngance without injury but\\nFor age and want save while you may,\\nNo morning sun lasts a whole day,\\nas Poor Richard says. Gain may be temporary and\\nuncertain but ever, while you live, expense is con-\\nstant and certain; and it is easier to build two chim-\\nneys, than to keep one in fuel,* as Poor Richard says.\\nSo Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.*\\n*Get what y u can, and what you get hold,\\nTis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold,\\nas Poor Richard says. And when you have got the\\nphilosopher s stone, sure you will no longer complain\\nof bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes.\\nThis doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom\\nbut after all, do not depend too much upon your own\\nindustry, and frugality, and prudence, though excel-\\nlent things; for they may be blasted without the\\nblessing of Heaven: and therefore ask that blessing\\nhumbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at pres-\\nent seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Re-\\nmember Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous.\\nAnd now, to conclude, Experience keeps a dear\\nschool but fools will learn in no othc^r, and scarce in\\nthat; for it is true, we may orive advice, but we cannot\\ngive conduct, as Poor Richard says. However, re-\\nmember this, They that will not be counseled, can-\\nnot be helped, as Poor Richard says and, farther,.\\nthat If you will not hear Reason, she will surely rap\\nyour knuckles.*\\nTlius the old gentleman ended his harangue. The\\npeople heard it and approved the doctrine, and im\\nmediately practiced the contrary-, just as if it had been", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0303.jp2"}, "304": {"fulltext": "294 franklin s essays.\\na common sermon for the auction opened, and thej\\nbegan to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his\\ncautions, and their own fear of taxes. I found the\\ngood man had thoroughly studied my almanacs, and di-\\ngested all I had dropped on these topics, during the\\ncourse of twenty-five y^jars. The frequent mention he\\nmade of me must have tired every one else but my\\nvanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I\\nwas conscious that not a tenth part of the wisdom was\\nmy own, which he ascribed to me, but rather the glean-\\nings that I had made of the sense of all ages and na-\\ntions. However, I resolved to be the better for the\\necho of it and though I had first determined to buy\\nstuff for a new coat, I went away, resolved to wear my\\nold one a little longer. Header, if thou wilt do the\\nsame, thy profit will be as great as mine.\\nI am, as ever, thine to serve thee.\\nRichard Saunders.\\nWHITEWASHING.\\nHUMOaOUS aOOODKT of a custom among the AMERICANS,\\nBNTITLSD WHITEWASHING, ATTRIBUTED TO\\nTHB PEN OF DR. FRANKLIN.\\nAlthough the foliowing article has not yet appeared\\nin any collection of the works of this great philoso-\\npher, we are inclined to receive the general opinion\\n(from the plainness of the style, and humor which\\ncharacterize it,) that it is the performance of Dr.\\nFranklin.\\nMy wish is to give you some account of the people\\nof these new states, but I am far from being qualified\\nfor the purpose, having as yet seen little more than the\\ncities of New York and Philadelphia. I have discov-\\nered but few national singularities among them. Their\\ncustoms and manners are nearly the same with those\\nof England, which they have long been used to copy.\\nFor previous to the Revolution^ the Ameri-^ana wer#", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0304.jp2"}, "305": {"fulltext": "FRANKLIN S ESSAYS. 29t^\\nfrom their infancy taught to look up to the English as\\npattferns of perfection in all things. I have observed,\\nhowever, one custom, which for aught I know, is pecu-\\nliar to this country an account of it will serve to fill\\nup the remainder of this sheet, and may afford you\\nsome amusement.\\nWhen a young couple are about to enter into the mat-\\nrimonial state, a never failing article in the marriage\\ntreaty is, that the lady shall have and enjoy the free\\nand unmolested exercise of the rights of whitewashing^\\nwith all its ceremonials, privileges and appurtenances.\\nA young woman ould forego the most advantageous\\nconnection, and even disappoint the warmest wishes of\\nher heart, rather i^han resign the invaluable right.\\nYou will wonder what this privilege of whitevjoshing\\nis I will endeavor to give you some idea of the cere-\\nmony, as I have seen it performed.\\nThere is no season of the year in wnich the lady may\\nnot claim her privilege, if she pleases but the latter\\nend of May is most generally fixed upon for the pur-\\npose. The attentive husband may judge by certain\\nprognostics when the storm is nigh at hand. When\\nthe lady is unusually fretful, finds fault with the ser-\\nvanus, is discontented with the children, and complains\\nmuch of the filthiness of everything about her these\\nare signs which ought not to be neglected yet they\\nare not decisive, as they sometimes come on and go off\\nagain without producing any farther effect. But ifi\\nwhen the husband rises in the morning, he should ob-\\nserve in the yard a wheelbarrow with a quantity of\\nlime in it, or should see certain buckets with lime dis-\\nsolved in water, there is then no time to be lost he\\nimmediately locks up the apartment or closet, where\\nhis papers or private property is kept, and putting the\\ney in his pocket, betakes himself to flight for a hus-\\nband, however beloved, becomes a perfect nuisance du-\\nring this season of female rage his authority is super-\\nseded, his commission is suspended, and the very scul-\\nlion, who cleans the brasses in the kitchen, becomes of\\nmore consideration and importance than he. He haa\\nnothing for it but to abdicate, and run fmm a %yil\\nwhich he can neither prevent nor mollify.", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0305.jp2"}, "306": {"fulltext": "296 franklin s essays.\\nThe husband gone, the ceremony begins. The walli\\nare in a few minutes stripped of their furniture\\npaiDtings, prints, and looking-glasses lie in a huddled\\nheap about the floors, the curtains are torn from the\\ntesters, the beds crammed into the windows; chairs\\nand tables, bedsteads and cradles, crowd the ysLvd\\nand the garden fence bends beneatli the weight of\\ncarpets, blankets, cloth, cloaks, old coats, and ragged\\nbreeches. Here may be seen the lumber of the kitch-\\nen, forming a dark and confused mass for the fore-\\nground of the picture, gridirons and frying-pans, rusty\\nshovels and broken tongs, spits and pots, and the frac-\\ntured remains of rush-bottomed chairs. There a closet\\nhas disgorged its bowels cracked tumblers, broken\\nwine glasses, phials of forgotten physic, papers of un-\\nknown powders, seeds and dried herbs, handfulis of old\\ncorks, tops of teapots, and stoppers cf departed decant-\\ners from the rag-hole in the garret to the rat-hole ir\\nthe cellar, no place escapes rnrummaged. It would\\nseem as if the day of general doom was come, and the\\nutensils of the house were dragged forth to judgment.\\nIn this tempest the words of Lear naturally present\\nthemselves, and might with some alteration, be made\\nitrict]]^ applicable\\nLet tho gieat gods,\\nThat keep this dreadful pudder o er our heads,\\nFind out their enemies now. Tremble, thou wretch\\nThat has within thee, undlvulged crimes,\\ntJnwhipt of justice\\nClose pent up guilt,\\nRaise your concealing 3ontinert9, and isk\\nThese dreadful suramoners grace\\nThe ceremony completed, and the house thoroughly\\nevacuated, the operation is to smear the walls and ceil-\\nings of every room and closet with brushes dipped in\\na solution of lime, called whitewash to pour buckets\\nof water over every floor and scratch all the parti-\\ntions and wainscots with rough brushes wet with soap-\\nsuds, and dipped in stone-cutter s sand. The windows\\nby no means escape the general deluge. A servant\\nscrambles upon the penthouse, at the risk of her neck,\\nand with a mug in her hand, and a bucket within her", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0306.jp2"}, "307": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 29*7\\nreach, she dashes away innumerable gallons of water\\nagaiust the glass panes, to the great annoyance of the\\npassengers in the street.\\nI have been told that an action at law was once\\nbrought against one of these water-nymphs, by a per-\\nson who had a new suit of clothes spoiled by this op-\\neration but after a long argument, it was determined\\nby the whole court, that the action would not lie, in-\\nsomuch as the defendant was in the exercise of a legal\\nright, and not answerable for the consequences and so\\nthe poor gentleman was doubly nonsuited for he lost\\nnot only his suit of clothes, but his suit at law.\\nThese smearings and scratchings, washing and dash-\\nings, being duly performed, the next ceremony is to\\ncleanse and replace the distracted furniture. You may\\nhave seen a house raising, or a ship launch, when all\\nthe hands within reach are collected together recol-\\nlect, if you can, the hurry, bustle, confusion, and noise\\nof such a scene, and you will have some idea of this\\ncleaning match. The misfortune is, that the sole ob-\\nject is to make thmgs clean it matters not how many\\nuseful, ornamental, or valuable articles are mutilated,\\nor suffer death under the operation a mahogany chair\\nand carved frame undergo the same discipline; they\\nare to be made clean at all events; but their preserva-\\ntion is not worthy of attention. For instance, a fine\\nlarge engraving is laid flat upon the floor; smaller\\nprints are piled upon it, and the superincumbent\\nweight cracks ,the glasses of the lower tier, but this ii\\nof no consequence. A valuable picture is placed lean-\\ning against the sharp corner of a table; others are\\nmade to lean against that, until the pressure of the\\nwhole forces the corner of the table through the can-\\nTas of the first. The frame and glass of a fine print\\nare to be cleaned; the spirit and oil used on this occa-\\nsion are suffered to leak through and spoil the engrav-\\ning no matter, if the glass is clean, ana the frame\\nshine, it is suflScient the rest is not worthy of a con-\\nsideration. An able arithmetician has made an accu-\\nrate calculation, founded on long experience, and ha\u00c2\u00ab\\ndiscovered that the losses and destruction incident t^", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0307.jp2"}, "308": {"fulltext": "298 franklin s essays.\\ntwo whitewashings are equal to one removal, and three\\nremovals equal to one fire.\\nThe cleaning frolic over, matters begin to resume\\ntheir pristine appearance. The storm abates, and all\\nwould be well again, but it is impossible that so great\\na convulsion, in so small a community, should not pro-\\nhice some farther effects. For two or three weeks\\nafter the operation, the family are usually afl9.icted\\nwith sore throats or sore eyes, occasioned by the caus-\\ntic quality of the lime, or with severe colds from the\\nexhalations of wet floors or damp walls.\\nI know a gentleman, who was fond of accounting\\nfor everything in a philosophical way. He considers\\nthis, which I have called a custon:., as a real periodical\\ndisease, peculiar to the climate. His train of reason-\\ning is ingenious and whimsical but I am not at leisure\\nto give you a detail. The result was that he found the\\ndistemper to be incurable; but after much stud}- he\\nconceived he had discovered a method to divert the\\nevil he cou^d not subdue. For this purpose he caused\\na small building, about twelve feet square, to be erect-\\ned in his garden, and furnished with some ordinary\\nchairs and tables; and a few prints of the cheapest\\nport were hung against the walls. His hope. was, that\\nT^hen the whitewashing frenzy seized the females of\\nhis family, they might repair to this apartment, and\\nscrub, and smear, and scour, to their heart s content;\\nand so spend the violence of the disease in this outpost,\\nwhile he enjoyed himself in quiet at head quarters.\\nB ut the experiment did not answer his expectation\\nt was impossible it should, since a principal part of\\nthe gratification consists in the lady s having an un-\\ncontrolled right to torment her husband at least once a\\nyear, and to turn him out of doors, and take the reins\\nof government into her own hands.\\nThere is a much better contrivance than this of the\\nphilosopher s, which is to cover the walls of the house\\nwith paper: that is generally done and though it can-\\nnot abolish, it at least shortens the period of female\\ndominion, ^be paper is decorated with flowers of va-\\nrious fanc^ie atd Tiadij so ornamental, that the womer", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0308.jp2"}, "309": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 299\\nhave admitted the fashion without perceiving the\\ndesign.\\nThere is also another alleviation of the husband s\\ndistress he generally has the privilege of a small room\\n?r closet for his books and papers, the key of which he\\nis allowed to keep. This is considered as a privileged\\nplace, and he stands like the land of Goshen amid the\\nplagues of Egypt. But then he must be extremely\\ncautious, and ever on his guard for should he inad-\\nvertently go abroad and leave the key in his door, the\\nhousemaid, who is always on the watch for such an op-\\nportunity, immediately enters in triumph with buckets,\\nbrooms, and brushes; takes possession of the premises,\\nand forthwith puts all his books and papers to rights, to\\nhis utter confusion, and sometimes serious detriment.\\nFor instance:\\nA gentleman was onee sued by the executors of a\\ntradesman, on a charge found against him in the de-\\nceased s books, to the .amount of thirty pounds. The\\ndefendant was strongly impressed with an idea that he\\nhad discharged the debt and taken d receipt; but as\\nthe transaction was of long standing, he knew not\\nwhere to find the receipt. The suit went on in course,\\nand the time approached when judgment would be ob-\\ntained against him. He then sat seriously down to\\nexamine a large bundle of old papers, which he had\\nuntied and displayed on a table for that purpose. In\\nthe midst of his search, he was suddenly called away\\non business of importance he forgot to look the door\\nof his room. The housemaid, who had been long look\\ning out for such an opportunity, immediately entered\\n^-^ith the usual implements, and with great alacrity fell\\nto cleaning the room, and putting things to rights.\\nThe first object that struck her eye was the confused\\nsituation of the papers on the table; these were with-\\nout delay bundled together like so man}- dirty knives\\nand forks; but iu the action a small piece of paper fell\\nonnoti-ced on the floor, which happened to be the very\\nreceipt in question as it had no very respectable ap-\\npearance, it was soon after swept out with the common\\ndirt of the room, and carried in a rubbish-pan into the\\nyard. The tradesman had neglected to enter the credit", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0309.jp2"}, "310": {"fulltext": "300 FRANKLINS EtSAYS\\nin his book; the defendant could find nothing to obri-\\nate the charge, and so the judgment went against him\\nfor the debt and costs. A fortnight after the whole\\nwas settled, and the money paid, one of the children\\nfound the receipt among the rubbish in the yard.\\nThere is another custom peculiar to the city of Phil-\\nadelphia, and nearly allied to the former. I mean that\\nof washing the pavement before the doors every Sat-\\nurday evening. I at first took this to be a regulation\\nof the police but, on further inquiry, find it is a re-\\nligious rite, preparatory to the Sabbath and is, be-\\nlieve, the only religious rite in which th\u00c2\u00abi numerous\\nsectaries of this city perfectly agree. The ceremony\\nbegins about sunset, and continues till about ten or\\neleven at night It is very difficult for a stranger to\\nwalk the streets on those evenings be runs a continual\\nrisk of having a bucket of dirty water thrown against\\nhis legs but a Philadelphian born is so much accus-\\ntomed to the danger, that he avoids it with surprising\\ndexterity. It is from this circumstance that a Phila-\\ndelphian may be known anywhere by his gait. The\\nstreets of JS ew York are paved with rough stones;\\nthese indeed are not washed, but the dirt is so thor-\\noughly swept from before the doors, that the stones\\nstand ap sharp and prominent, to the great inconve-\\nnience of those who are not accustomed to so rough a\\npath. But habit reconciles everything. It is divert-\\ning enough to see a Philadelphian at New York he\\nwalks the streets with as much most painful cautioi\\nas if his toes were covered with corns, or his feet lamed\\nwith the gout; while a New Yorker, as little approving\\nthe plain masonry of Philadelphia, shuffles along the\\npavement like a parrot on a mahogany table.\\nit must be acknowledged, that the ablutions I have\\nmentioned are attended with no small inconvenience,\\nbut the women could not be induced, from any con-\\nsideration, to resign their privilege. Notwithstanding\\nthis, I can give you the strongest asf^urances, that the\\nwomen of America make the most faithful wives and\\nthe most attentive mothers in the world and I am\\n9ure you will join me in opinion, that if a married", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0310.jp2"}, "311": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. 301\\nman is made miserable only one week in a whole year,\\nhe will have no great cause to complain of the malri\\nmonial bond.\\nI am, ifec.\\nANSWER TO THE FOREGOIXG.\\nIN THE CHARACTER OF A LADT, BUT REALLY 3Y THE SAME HAND\\nSir: I have lately seen a letter upon the subject cT\\nwhitewLsl .ing, in which that necessary duty cf a good\\nhousewife Is treated with unmerited ridicule. I s! Ouid\\nErobably have forgotten the foolish thing by this time\\nut the season coming on which most women think\\nsuitable for cleansing their apartments from sm kt anc\\ndirt of the winter, I find this saucy auilior dished up\\nin every family, and his flippant performance quoted\\nwherever a wife attempts to exercise her reasonable\\nprerogative, or execute the duties of her station.\\nWomen generally employ their time to better purpose\\nthan scribbling. The cares and comforts of a family\\nrest principally upon their shoulders; hence it is that\\nthere are but a few female authors and the men, know-\\ning how necessary our attentions are to their happi-\\nness, take every opportunity of discouraging litorary\\naccomplishments in the fair sex. You hear it echoed\\nfrom every quarter *My wife cannot make versus, it\\nis true; but sh^ makes an excellent pudding; she\\ncan t correct the press, but she can correct her children,\\nand scold her servants with admirable discretion she\\n\u00c2\u00aban t unravel the intricacies of political economy and\\nfederal government; but she can knit charming stock-.\\nings. And this they call praising a wife, and doing\\njustice to her character, with much nonsense of tlie like\\nkind.\\nI say, women generally employ their time to much\\nbetter purpose than scribbling otherwise this face\\ntious writer had not gone so long unanswered. We\\nbave ladies who sometimes lay down the needle an", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0311.jp2"}, "312": {"fulltext": "302 franklin s essays.\\ntake up *^he pen I -wonder none of them ha\\\\ e at-\\ntempted 8ome reply. For my part, I do not pretend to\\nbe an author. I have never appeared in print in my\\nlife, but I can ne longer forbear to say something in\\nanswer to such impertinence, circulate how it may.\\nOnly, sir, consider our situation. Men are naturally\\ninattentive to the decencies of life but why should 1\\nbe so complaisant? I say they aru naturally filthy\\ncreatures. If it were not that their connection with\\nthe refined sex polished their manners, and had a happy\\ninfluence o the general economy of life, these lords of\\ncreation would wallow in filth, and populous cities\\nwould infvCt the atmosphere with their noxious vapors.\\nIt is the attention and assiduity of the women that\\nprevent men from degenerating into mere swine. How\\nimportant then are the services we render; and yet for\\nthese very services we are made the subject of ridicule\\nand fun. Base ingratitude Nauseous creatures 1 Per-\\nhaps you may think I am in a passion. No, sir-, I do\\nassure you I never was more composed in my life\\nand yet it is enough to provoke a saint to see how un\\nreasonably we are treated by the inan. Why now,\\nthere s my haaband a good enough sort of a man in\\nthe mf.in ^but I will give you a sample of him. He\\ncomes into the parlor the otuer day, where, to be sure,\\nI was cutting up a piece of linen. Lord I says he,\\nwh^it a Gutter here is f 1 can t bear to see the parlor\\nlook rise a tailor s shop; besides, I am going to make\\nsome important philosophical experiments, and must\\nhave sumoient room I\\nYou must know my husband is one of your would\\nbe philosophers. Well, I bundled up my linen as quick\\nas I could, ftnd be^an to darn a pair of ruffles, which\\ntook no room, and could give no offense. I thought,\\nhowever, I would watch my lord and master s import-\\nant business. In about half an hour the tables were\\ncovered with all manner of trumpei y bottles of water,\\nphials of drugs, pasteboard, paper and cards, gluo,\\npaste, and gum-irabic: files, kcives, scissors, needier\\nrosin, -wtax, silk, thread, rags, jags, tags, books, pam-\\nphlets, and papers. Lord bless me I atn almost oui\\no( breatih, \u00c2\u00bbnd yet I hav\u00c2\u00ab not enumerated half th- at", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0312.jp2"}, "313": {"fulltext": "franklin s essays. -303\\ntides. Well, to work he went, and although I did nol\\nunderstand the object of the manoeuvres, yet I could\\nsufficiently discover th\u00c2\u00abt he did not succeed in any one\\noperation. I was glad of that, I confess, and with good\\nreason too for, after he had fatigued himself with\\nmischief, like a monkey in a china stiop, and called the\\nservants to clear everything away, I took a view of\\nthe scene my parlor exhibited- I shall not even attempt\\ni minute description; suffice it to say, that he had\\noverset his inkstand, and stained my best mahogany\\ntable with ink he had spilt a uantity of vitriol, and\\nburnt a large hole in my car}v3t my marble hearth\\nwas all over apotted with melted rosin besides this,\\nhe had broken three china cups, four wine glasses, two\\ntumblers, %nd one of my handsomest decanters. .\\\\nd,\\nafter all, as I said before, I perceived that he had not\\nsucceeded in any one operation. By the by, tell your\\nfriend, the whitewash scribbler, that this is one iLeans\\nby which our closets become furnished with halves of\\nchina bowls, cracked tumblers, broken wine glasses,\\ntops of teapots, and stoppers of departed decanters. 1\\nsay, I took a view of the dirt and devastation my\\nphilosophic husband had occasioned and there I sat,\\nlike ir^atience on a monument, smiling at grief; but it\\nworked inwardl} I would almost as soon the melted\\nrosin and vitriol had been in his throat, as on my dear\\nmarble heartli, and my beautiful carpet. It is not true\\nt):iat women have no power over their own feelings;\\ntor notwithstanding this provocation, I said nothing,\\nor next to nothing; for I only observed, very pleasant-\\n/ly, what a lady of my acquaintan2e had told me, that\\nthe reason why philosophers are called literary men, is\\nbecause they make a great litter not a word more\\nhowever, the servant cleared it away, and down sat\\nthe philosopher. A friend dropped in soon after. Youi\\nservant, sir, how do you do 0 Lord 1 1 am al\\nmost fatigued to death I have been all the morning\\nmaking philosophical experiments. I was now more\\nhardly put to it to smother a laugh, than I had been\\njust befcre to contain my rage my precioM went out\\nsoon after, and J, qm yon may auppose, mustered all my\\nforces; brush**, buokata, soap, iand, limeskine, aud co", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0313.jp2"}, "314": {"fulltext": "304 FEANKL1\\\\ S ESSAYS.\\ncoanut sheila, with all the powers of housewifery\\nwere immediately employed. I was certainly the best\\nphilosopher of the two for my experiments succeeded,\\nand his did not. All was well a^aln, except my poor\\ncarpet my vitriolized carpet, which still continued a\\nmournful memento of philosophic fury, or rather philo-\\nsophic folly. The operation was scarce over, when, in\\ncame my experimental philosopher, and told me, with\\nall the indifference in the world, thai he had iiivited\\nsix gentlemen to dine with him ftt three o clock. It\\nwas then past one. I complained of the short notice.\\nPoh poh I said he, you can get a leg of Jintton,\\nand a loin of veal, and a few potatoes, which will dj\\nwell enough. Heaven what a chaos must the head\\nof a philosopher be a leg of mutton, a loin of veal,\\nand potatoes I I was at loss whether I should laugh or\\nbe angry; but there was no time for determining: 1\\nhad but an hour and a half to do a world of business\\nin. My carpet, which had suffered in the cause of ex-\\nperimental philosophy in the morning, was destined to\\nbe most shamefully dishonored in the afternoon b}^ a\\ndeluge of nasty tobacco juice. Gentlemen em.okers\\nlove segars better than carpets. Think, sir, what a\\nwoman must endure under such circumstances and\\nthen, after all, to be reproached with her cloaulint ss,\\nand to have her whitewashings, her scuurings, at^id\\n3crubbings, made the subject of ridicule it is more\\nthan patience can put up with. What I have new ex-\\nhibited, is but a small specimen of the injuries we sus-\\ntain from the boasted superiority of men. But we will\\nnot be laughed out of our cleanimess. A woman would\\nrather be called anything than a slut, as a man would\\nrather be thought a knave than a fooL I had a great\\ndeal more to say, but am called away we are j ist pre\\nparing to whitewash, and of course I have a deal of\\nbusiness on my hands. The whitewash buckets are\\nparaded, the brushes are ready, my husband has gone\\noff so much the better when we are upon a thorough\\ncleaning, the first dirty thing to be removed, is one s\\nhusband. I am called for again. Adieu.", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0314.jp2"}, "315": {"fulltext": "V\\nI", "height": "3617", "width": "2081", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0315.jp2"}, "316": {"fulltext": "SEi 1 190Q", "height": "3691", "width": "2253", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0316.jp2"}, "317": {"fulltext": "c", "height": "3691", "width": "2216", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0317.jp2"}, "318": {"fulltext": "LIBRARY OF CONGRESS\\n\u00e2\u0096\u00a0iiiiiiii\\n016 211 398 7\\n\u00e2\u0096\u00a0w\\n:H\\niiiili\\n!.^!l\u00e2\u0080\u009eii.,!!ia|\\n1 ^^MBmi^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B ^rffuuii}!\\n-.J\\n1 -^^i^^^^-^I^^^^^^^^^^^MHInf\\nm\\nV m^^^^^^^mi III\\n^^HHilii", "height": "3752", "width": "2499", "jp2-path": "autobiographyofb06fran_0318.jp2"}}