tion, and obstinately would not promise to row. | being becalmed off Block Island, our crew Finding him at last beginning to tire, we drew employed themselves in catching cod, and him into the boat, and brought him home drip- hauled up a great number. Till then I had ping wet. We hardly exchanged a civil word stuck to my resolution to eat nothing that had after this adventure. At length a West India had life; and on this occasion I considered, captain, who had a commission to procure a according to my master Tryon, the taking preceptor for the sons of a gentleman at Bar- every fish, as a kind of unprovoked murder, badoes, met with him, and proposed to carry since none of them had nor could do us any him thither to fill that situation. He accept- injury that might justify this massacre. All ed, and promised to remit me what he owed this seemed very reasonable. But I had been me out of the first money he should receive; formerly a great lover of fish, and when it came but I never heard of him after. The viola- out of the frying-pan it smelt admirably well. tion of my trust, respecting Vernon's money, I balanced some time between principle and was one of the first great errata of my life; inclination, till, recollecting that when fish and this shewed that my father was not much were opened I saw smaller fish taken out of out in his judgment, when he considered me their stomachs; then thought I, “If you eat one as too young to manage business. But sir another, I don't see why we may not eat you." William, on reading his letter, said he was So I dined upon cod very heartily, and have too prudent, that there was a great difference since continued to eat as other people; returnin persons; and discretion did not always ac-ing only now and then occasionally to a vegecompany years, nor was youth always without table diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a it. "But since he will not set you up, I will do reasonable creature, since it enables one to it myself. Give me an inventory of the things find or make a reason for every thing one has necessary to be had from England, and I will a mind to do. send for them. You shall repay me when Keimer and I lived on a pretty good familiar you are able; I am resolved to have a good footing, and agreed tolerably well; for he susprinter here, and I am sure you must suc-pected nothing of my setting up. He retainceed." This was spoken with such an appeared a great deal of his old enthusiasm, and ance of cordiality, that I had not the least loved argumentation. We therefore had many doubt of his meaning what he said. I had disputations. I used to work him so with my hitherto kept the proposition of my setting Socratic method, and had trepanned him so up a secret in Philadelphia, and I still kept often by questions apparently so distant from it. Had it been known that I depended on any point we had in hand, yet by degress leadthe governor, probably some friend that knew ing to the point, and bringing him into diffihim better, would have advised me not to re-culties and contradictions, that at last he grew ly on him; as I afterwards heard it as his known character, to be liberal of promises which he never meant to keep; yet, unsolicited as he was by me, how could I think his generous offers insincere? I believed him one of the best men in the world. 66 I presented him an inventory of a little printing house, amounting by my computation to about one hundred pounds sterling. He liked it, but asked me if my being on the spot in England to choose the types, and see that every thing was good of the kind, might not be of some advantage; then," said he, "when there you may make acquaintance, and establish cerrespondences in the bookselling and stationary way." I agreed, that this might be advantageous. "Then," said he, "get yourself ready to go with Annis;" which was the annual ship, and the only one at that time usually passing between London and Philadelphia. But as it would be some months before Annis sailed, I continued working with Keimer, fretting extremely about the money Collins had got from me, and in great apprehensions of being called upon for it by Vernon; this however did not happen for some years after. I believe I have omitted mentioning, that in my first voyage from Boston to Philadelphia, ridiculously cautious, and would hardly answer me the most common questions, without asking first, "What do you intend to infer from that?" However, it gave him so high an opinion of my abilities in the confuting way, that he seriously proposed my being his colleague in a project he had of setting up a new sect. He was to preach the doctrines, and I was to confound all opponents. When he came to explain with me upon the doctrines, I found several conundrums, which I objected to, unless I might have my way a little too, and introduce some of mine. Keimer wore his beard at full length, because somewhere in the Mosaic law, it is said, “Thou shalt not mar the corners of thy beard." He likewise kept the seventh day Sabbath; and these two points were essential with him. I disliked both; but agreed to them on condition of his adopting the doctrine of not using animal food. I doubt, said he, my constitution will not bear it. I assured him it would, and that he would be the better for it. He was usually a great eater, and I wished to give myself some diversion in half starving him. He consented to try the practice if I would keep him company: I did so, and we held it for three months. Our provisions were purchased, cooked, and brought to us regularly by a wo man in the neighbourhood, who had from me a list of forty dishes, which she prepared for us at different times, in which there entered neither fish, flesh nor fowl. This whim suited me the better at this time, from the cheapness of it, not costing us above eighteen pence sterling each per week. I have since kept several lents most strictly, leaving the common diet for that and that for the common, abruptly, without the least inconvenience. So that I think there is little in the advice of making those changes by easy gradations. I went on pleasantly, but poor Keimer suffered grievously, grew tired of the project, longed for the flesh-pots of Egypt, and ordered a roast pig. He invited me and two women friends to dine with him, but it being brought too soon upon table, he could not resist the temptation, and ate the whole before we came. I had made some courtship during this time to Miss Read; I had a great respect and affection for her, and had some reasons to believe she had the same for me; but as I was about to take a long voyage, and we were both very young, (only a little above eighteen,) it was thought most prudent by her mother to prevent our going too far at present; as a marriage, if it was to take place, would be more convenient after my return, when I should be, as I hoped, set up in my business. Perhaps too she thought my expectations not so well founded as I imagined them to be. My chief acquaintances at this time were Charles Osborne, Joseph Watson, and James Ralph; all lovers of reading. The two first were clerks to an eminent scrivener or conveyancer in the town, (Charles Brogden,) the other was a clerk to a merchant. Watson was a pious, sensible young man, of great integrity: the others rather more lax in their principles of religion, particularly Ralph, who as well as Collins had been unsettled by me; for which they both made me suffer. Osborne was sensible, candid, frank-sincere and affectionate to his friends; but in literary matters too fond of criticism. Ralph was ingenuous, genteel in his manners, and extremely eloquent; I think I never knew a prettier talker. Both were great admirers of poetry, and began to try their hands in little pieces. Many pleasant walks we have had together on Sundays in the woods on the banks of the Schuylkill, where we read to one another, and conferred on what we had read. Ralph was inclined to give himself up entirely to poetry, not doubting but he might make great proficiency in it, and even make his fortune by it. He pretended that the greatest poets must, when they first began to write, have committed as many faults as he did. Osborne endeavoured to dissuade him, assured him he had no genius for poetry, and advised him to think of nothing beyond the business he was bred to; "that in the mercantile way, though he had no stock, he might by his diligence and punctuality recommend himself to employment as a factor, and in time acquire wherewith to trade on his own account." I approved, for my part, the amusing oneself with poetry now and then, so far as to improve one's language, but no further. On this it was proposed that we should each of us at our next meeting produce a piece of our own composing, in order to improve by our mutual observations, critcisms, and corrections. As language and expression was what we had in view, we excluded all considerations of invention, by agreeing that the task should be a version of the eighteenth psalm, which describes the descent of a deity. When the time of our meeting drew nigh, Ralph called on me first, and let me know his piece was ready: I told him I had been busy, and having little inclination, had done nothing. He then shewed me his piece for my opinion, and I much approved it, as it appeared to me to have great merit. Now," said he, "Osborne never will allow the least merit in any thing of mine, but makes a thousand criticisms out of mere envy: He is not so jealous of you; I wish therefore you would take this piece and produce it as yours; I will pretend not to have had time, and so produce nothing; we shall then hear what he will say to it." It was agreed, and I immediately transcribed it, that it might appear in my own hand. We met: Watson's performance was read; there were some beauties in it, but many defects. Osborne's was read; it was much better: Ralph did it justice; remarked some faults, but applauded the beauties. He himself had nothing to produce. I was backward, seemed desirous of being excused, had not had sufficient time to correct, &c., but no excuse could be admitted; produce I must. It was read and repeated: Watson and Osborne gave up the contest, and joined in applauding it. Ralph only made some criticisms and proposed some amendments; but I defended my text. Osborne was severe against Ralph, and told me he was no better able to criticise than to compose verses. As these two were returning home, Osborne expressed himself still more strongly in favour of what he thought my production; having before refrained, as he said, lest I should think he meant to flatter me. "But who would have imagined,” said he,” ""that Franklin was capable of such a performance; such painting, such force, such fire! He has even improved on the original. In common conversation he seems to have no choice of words, he hesitates and blunders; and yet, good God, how he writes!" When we next met, Ralph discovered the trick we had played, and Osborne was laughed at. This transaction fixed Ralph in his resolution of becoming a poet. I did all I could to dissuade him from it, but he continued scribbling verses till Pope cured with a birth in the steerage, and none on board knowing us, were considered as ordinary persons. But Mr. Hamilton and his son (it was James, since governor) returned from Newcastle to hiladelphia, the father being recalled by a great fee to plead for a seized ship. And just before we sailed, colonel French coming on board, and shewing me great respect, I was more taken notice of; and with my him. He became however a pretty good prose writer. More of him hereafter. But as I may not have occasion to mention the other two, I shall just remark here, that Watson died in my arms a few years after, much lamented, being the best of our set. Osborne went to the West Indies, where he became an eminent lawyer and made money, but died young. He and I had made a serious agree-friend Ralph invited by the other gentlemen ment that the one who happened first to die should, if possible, make a friendly visit to the other, and acquaint him how he found things in that separate state. But he never fulfilled his promise. The governor seeming to like my company, had me frequently at his house, and his set ting me up was always mentioned as a fixed thing. I was to take with me letters recommendatory to a number of his friends, besides the letter of credit to furnish me with the necessary money for purchasing the press, types, paper, &c. For these letters I was appointed to call at different times, when they were to be ready, but a future time was still named. Thus we went on till the ship (whose departure too had been several times postponed) was on the point of sailing. Then when I called to take my leave and receive the letters, his secretary, Dr. Baird, came out to me and said the governor was extremely busy in writing, but would be down at Newcastle before the ship, and then the letters would be delivered to me. Ralph, though married, and having one child, had determined to accompany me in this voyage. It was thought he intended to establish a correspondence and obtain goods to sell on commission; but I found after, that having some cause of discontent with his wife's relations, he proposed to leave her on their hands and never return to America. Having taken leave of my friends, and exchanged promises with Miss Read, I quitted Philadelphia, in the ship, which anchored at Newcastle. The governor was there, but when I went to his lodging, his secretary came to me from him with expressions of the greatest regret that he could not then see me, being engaged in business of importance; but that he would send the letters to me on board, wishing me heartily a good voyage and a speedy return, &c. I returned on board a little puzzled, but still not doubting. to come into the cabin, there being now room; accordingly we removed thither. Understanding that colonel French had brought on board the governor's dispatches, I asked the captain for those letters that were to be under my care; he said all were put into the bag together, and he could not then come at them, but before we landed in England I should have an opportunity of picking them out; so I was satisfied for the present, and we proceeded on our voyage. We had a sociable company in the cabin, and lived uncommonly well, having the addition of all Mr. Hamilton's stores, who had laid in plentifully. In this passage Mr. Denham contracted a friendship for me, that continued during his life. The voyage was otherwise not a pleasant one, as we had a great deal of bad weather. When we came into the Channel, the captain kept his word with me, and gave me an opportunity of examining the bag for the governor's letters; I found some upon which my name was put, as under my care: I picked out six or seven, that by the hand-writing I thought might be the promised letters, especially as one of them was addressed to Basket, the king's printer, and another to some stationer. We arrived in London the 24th December, 1724. I waited upon the stationer, who came first in my way, delivering the letter as from governor Keith. I don't know such a person, said he : but opening the letter, O! this is from Riddlesden. I have lately found him to be a complete rascal, and I will have nothing to do with him, nor receive any letters from him. So putting the letter into my hand, he turned on his heel and left me to serve some customer. I was surprised to find these were not the governor's letters; and, after recollecting and comparing circumstances, I began to doubt his sincerity. I found my friend Denham, and opened the whole affair to him. He let me into Keith's Mr. Andrew Hamilton, a celebrated lawyer character, told me there was not the least of Philadelphia, had taken his passage in the probability that he had written any letters for same ship for himself and son, with Mr. Den-me; that no one who knew him, had the ham, a Quaker merchant, and Messrs. Oniam and Russel, (masters of an Iron Work in Maryland,) who had engaged the great cabin; so that Ralph and I were forced to take up "Silence, ye Wolves, while Ralph to Cynthia howls, And makes night hidious:-answer him ye Owls!" smallest dependence on him; and he laughed at the idea of the governor's giving me a letter of credit, having, as he said, no credit to give. On my expressing some concern about what I should do, he advised me to endeavour getting some employment in the way of my business. Among the printers here, said he you will improve yourself, and when you return to America, you will set up to greater advantage. public amusements; we had nearly consumed all my pistoles, and now just rubbed on from hand to mouth. He seemed quite to have forgotten his wife and child; and I by degrees my engagements with Miss Read, to whom I never wrote more than one letter, and that was to let her know I was not likely soon to return. This was another of the great errata of my life which I could wish to correct, if I were to live it over again. In fact, by our expenses I was constantly kept unable to pay my passage. At Palmer's I was employed in composing for the second edition of Woollaston's Religion of Nature. Some of his reasonings not appearing to me well-founded, I wrote a little metaphysical piece, in which I made remarks on them. It was intitled "A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain." I inscribed it to my friend Ralph; I printed We both of us happened to know, as well as the stationer, that Riddlesden, the attorney, was a very knave; he had half ruined Miss Read's father, by persuading him to be bound for him. By his letter it appeared there was a secret scheme on foot to the prejudice of Mr. Hamilton, (supposed to be then coming over with us;) that Keith was concerned in it, with Riddlesden. Denham, who was a friend of Hamilton's, thought he ought to be acquainted with it; so when he arrived in England, which was soon after, partly from resentment and ill will to Keith and Riddlesden, and partly from good will to him, I waited on him, and gave him the letter. He thanked me cordially, the information being of importance to him; and from that time he became my friend, greatly to my advantage afterwards a small number. It occasioned my being on many occasions. more considered by Mr. Palmer, as a young But what shall we think of a governor play-man of some ingenuity, though he seriously ing such pitiful tricks, and imposing so grossly upon a poor ignorant boy! It was a habit he had acquired; he wished to please every body, and having little to give, he gave expectations. He was otherwise an ingenious, sensible man, a pretty good writer, and a good governor for the people; though not for his constituents the proprietaries, whose instructions he sometimes disregarded: several of our best laws were of his planning, and passed during his administration. Ralph and I were inseparable companions. We took lodgings together in Little Britain, at 3s. 6d. per week; as much as we could then afford. He found some relations, but they were poor, and unable to assist him. He now let me know his intentions of remaining in London, and that he never meant to return to Philadelphia. He had brought no money with him, the whole he could muster having been expended in paying his passage. I had fifteen pistoles; so he borrowed occasionally of me to subsist, while he was looking out for business. He first endeavoured to get into the play-house, believing himself qualified for an actor; but Wilkes, to whom he applied, advised him candidly not to think of that employment, as it was impossible he should succeed in it. Then he proposed to Roberts, a publisher in Pater-Noster Row, to write for him a weekly paper like the Spectator, on certain conditions; which Roberts did not approve. Then he endeavoured to get employment as a hackney writer, to copy for the stationers and lawyers about the Temple; but could not find a vacancy. expostulated with me upon the principles of my pamphlet, which to him appeared abominable. My printing this pamphlet was another erratum. While I lodged in Little Britain, I made acquaintance with one Wilcox, a bookseller, whose shop was next door. He had an immense collection of second-hand books. Circulating libraries were not then in use, but we agreed that, on certain reasonable terms, (which I have now forgotten,) I might take, read, and return any of his books; this I esteemed a great advantage, and I made as much use of it as I could. My pamphlet by some means falling into the hands of one Lyons, a surgeon, author of a book intitled "The Infallibility of Human Judgment," it occasioned an acquaintance between us; he took great notice of me, called on me often to converse on those subjects, carried me to the Horns, a pale alehouse in lane, Cheapside, and introduced me to doctor Mandeville, author of the Fable of the Bees, who had a club there, of which he was the soul, being a most facetious, entertaining companion. Lyons too introduced me to doctor Pemberton,* at Baston's coffeehouse, who promised to give me an opportunity, some time or other, of seeing sir Isaac Newton, of which I was extremely desirous; but this never happened. I had brought over a few curiosties, among which the principal was a purse made of the asbestos, which purifies by fire. Sir Hans Sloane heard of it, came to see me, and invited me to his house in Bloomsbury square, showed me all his curiosities, and persuaded me to add that to the number; for which he paid me handsomely. For myself I immediately got into work at Palmer's, a famous printing house in Bartholomew Close, where I continued near a year. I was pretty diligent, but I spent with Ralph a good deal of my earnings, at plays and niosophy," and "A Treatise on Chemistry;" died VOL L-C 2* *F. R. S. author of "A View of sir Isaac Newton's in 1771. In our house lodged a young woman, a mil- ed to take some liberties with her, (another liner, who, I think, had a shop in the cloisters; erratum,) which she repulsed, with a proper she had been genteelly bred, was sensible, degree of resentment. She wrote to Ralph lively, and of a most pleasing conversation.- and acquainted him with my conduct; this Ralph read plays to her in the evenings, they occasioned a breach between us; and when grew intimate, she took another lodging, and he returned to London, he let me know he he followed her. They lived together some considered all the obligations he had been time, but he being still out of business, and under to me as annulled; from which I conher income not sufficient to maintain them cluded I was never to expect his repaying me with her child, he took a resolution of going the money I had lent him, or that I had adfrom London, to try for a country school, which vanced for him. This however was of little he thought himself well qualified to under- consequence, as he was totally unable; and by take, as he wrote an excellent hand, and the loss of his friendship I found myself rewas a master of arithmetic and accounts.-lieved from a heavy burden. I now began to This however he deemed a business below think of getting a little beforehand, and exhim, and confident of future better fortune, pecting better employment, I left Palmer's to when he should be unwilling to have it known work at Watts's, near Lincoln's Inn Fields, a that he once was so meanly employed, he still greater printing house; here I continued changed his name, and did me the honour to all the rest of my stay in London. assume mine; for I soon after had a letter At my first admission into the printing house from him, acquainting me that he was settled I took to working at press, imagining I felt a in a small village in Berkshire, (I think it was want of the bodily exercise I had been used where he taught reading and writing to ten to in America, where press-work is mixed with or a dozen boys, at 6d. each per week,) re- the composing. I drank only water; the other commending Mrs. T.... to my care, and desir-workmen, near fifty in number, were great ing me to write to him, directing for Mr. drinkers of beer. On occasion I carried up Franklin, schoolmaster, at such a place. He and down stairs a large form of types in each continued to write to me frequently, sending hand, when others carried but one in both me large specimens of an epic poem, which he hands; they wondered to see from this and was then composing, and desiring my re- several instances, that the Water-American, marks and corrections. These I gave him as they called me, was stronger than themfrom time to time, but endeavoured rather to selves who drank strong beer! We had an discourage his proceeding. One of Young's alehouse boy, who attended always in the satires was then just published: I copied and house to supply the workmen. My companion sent him a great part of it, which set in a at the press drank every day a pint before strong light the folly of pursuing the Muses.* breakfast, a pint at breakfast with his bread All was in vain, sheets of the poem continued and cheese, a pint between breakfast and dinto come by every post. In the mean time, ner, a pint at dinner; a pint in the afternoon Mrs. T.... having on his account lost her about six o'clock, and another when he had friends and business, was often in distresses, done his day's work. I thought it a detestaand used to send for me and borrow what ble custom; but it was necessary, he supposmoney I could spare to help to alleviate them. ed, to drink strong beer that he might be I grew fond of her company, and being at that strong to labour. I endeavoured to convince time under no religious restraint, and taking him that the bodily strength afforded by beer, advantage of my importance to her, I attempt could only be in proportion to the grain or "Th' abandoned manners of our writing train "An author, 'tis a venerable name! "Ye restless men! who pant for letter'd praise, With whom would you consult to gain the bays? With those great authors whose fam'd works you read? "Tis well; go, then, consult the laurell'd shade, "Thus ends your courted fame-does lucre then, The sacred thirst of gold, betray your pen? In prose 'tis blameable, in verse 'tis worse, Provokes the Muse, extorts Apollo's curse; His sacred influence never should be sold; "Tis arrant simony to sing for gold; "Tis immortality should fire your mind, Scorn a less paymaster than all mankind." YOUNG, Vol. III. Epist. II. p. 70. |