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. Os borne'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. 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 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 friend Ralph invited by the other gentlemen to come into the cabin, there being now room; accordingly we removed thither. continued scribbling verses till Pope cured | with a birth in the steerage, and none on board him. He became however a pretty good knowing us, were considered as ordinary perprose writer. More of him hereafter. But sons. But Mr. Hamilton and his son (it was 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 agreement that the one who happened first to die should, if possible, make a friendly visit to the cther, and acquaint him how he found things in that separate state. But he never fulfilled his promise. Understanding that colonel French had brought on board the governor's dispatches, I asked the captain for those letters that were The governor seeming to like my company, to be under my care; he said all were put had me frequently at his house, and his set into the bag together, and he could not then ting me up was always mentioned as a fixed come at them, but before we landed in Enthing. I was to take with me letters recom-gland I should have an opportunity of picking mendatory to a number of his friends, besides them out; so I was satisfied for the present, the letter of credit to furnish me with the ne-and we proceeded on our voyage. We had a cessary 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. 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!" POPE'S DUNCIAD, b. iii. v. 165. 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 We both of us happened to know, as well have forgotten his wife and child; and I by as the stationer, that Riddlesden, the attorney, degrees my engagements with Miss Read, to was a very knave; he had half ruined Miss whom I never wrote more than one letter, Read's father, by persuading him to be bound and that was to let her know I was not likely for him. By his letter it appeared there was a soon to return. This was another of the great secret scheme on foot to the prejudice of Mr. errata of my life which I could wish to corHamilton, (supposed to be then coming over rect, if I were to live it over again. In fact, with us;) that Keith was concerned in it, with by our expenses I was constantly kept unable Riddlesden. Denham, who was a friend of to pay my passage. 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 on many occasions. 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 a small number.. It occasioned my being 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 succoed 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 o 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 Philosophy," and "A Treatise on Chemistry;" ed VOL L-C 2* F. R. S. author of "A View of sir Isaac Newton's in 1771. and acquainted him with my conduct; this occasioned a breach between us; and when he returned to London, he let me know he considered all the obligations he had been under to me as annulled; from which I concluded I was never to expect his repaying me the money I had lent him, or that I had advanced for him. This however was of little consequence, as he was totally unable; and by the loss of his friendship I found myself relieved from a heavy burden. I now began to think of getting a little beforehand, and expecting better employment, I left Palmer's to work at Watts's, near Lincoln's Inn Fields, a still greater printing house; here I continued all the rest of my stay in London. 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. Ralph read plays to her in the evenings, they grew intimate, she took another lodging, and he followed her. They lived together some time, but he being still out of business, and her income not sufficient to maintain them with her child, he took a resolution of going from London, to try for a country school, which he thought himself well qualified to undertake, as he wrote an excellent hand, and was a master of arithmetic and accounts.This however he deemed a business below him, and confident of future better fortune, when he should be unwilling to have it known that he once was so meanly employed, he changed his name, and did me the honour to assume mine; for I soon after had a letter 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. Franklin, schoolmaster, at such a place. He continued to write to me frequently, sending me large specimens of an epic poem, which he was then composing, and desiring my remarks and corrections. These I gave him from time to time, but endeavoured rather to discourage his proceeding. One of Young's satires was then just published: I copied and sent him a great part of it, which set in a strong light the folly of pursuing the Muses.* All was in vain, sheets of the poem continued to come by every post. In the mean time, Mrs. T.... having on his account lost her friends and business, was often in distresses, and used to send for me and borrow what money I could spare to help to alleviate them. I grew fond of her company, and being at that time under no religious restraint, and taking advantage of my importance to her, I attempt *Th' abandoned manners of our writing train "An author, 'tis a venerable name! drinkers of beer. On occasion I carried up and down stairs a large form of types in each hand, when others carried but one in both hands; they wondered to see from this and several instances, that the Water-American, as they called me, was stronger than themselves who drank strong beer! We had an alehouse boy, who attended always in the house to supply the workmen. My companion at the press drank every day a pint before breakfast, a pint at breakfast with his bread and cheese, a pint between breakfast and dinner, a pint at dinner; a pint in the afternoon about six o'clock, and another when he had done his day's work. I thought it a detestable custom; but it was necessary, he suppos ed, to drink strong beer that he might be strong to labour. I endeavoured to convince him that the bodily strength afforded by beer, could only be in proportion to the grain or "Ye restless men! who pant for letter'd praise, With whom would you consult to gain the bays? With those great authors whose fami'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. flour of the barley dissolved in the water of which it was made; that there was more flour in a pennyworth of bread, and therefore if he could eat that with a pint of water, it would give him more strength than a quart of beer. He drank on however, and had four or five shillings to pay out of his wages every Saturday night for that vile liquor: an expense I was free from; and thus these poor devils keep themselves always under. Watts, after some weeks, desiring to have me in the composing room, I left, the pressmen; a new bien venu for drink, (being five shillings,) was demanded of me by the compositors. I thought it an imposition, as I had paid one to the pressmen; the master thought so too, and forbade my paying it. I stood out two or three weeks, was accordingly considered as an excommunicate, and had so many little pieces of private malice practised on me, by mixing my sorts, transposing and breaking my matter, &c., &., if ever I stept out of the room, and all ascribed to the chapel ghost, which they said ever haunted those not regularly admitted, that, notwithstanding the master's protection, I found myself obliged to comply and pay the money-convinced of the folly of being on ill terms with those one is to live with continually. I was now on a fair footing with them, and soon acquired considerable influence. I proposed some reasonable alterations in their chapel laws, and carried them against all opposition. From my example a great many of them left their muddling breakfast of beer, bread and cheese, finding they could with me be supplied from a neighbouring house with a large porringer of hot water-gruel, sprinkled with pepper, crumbled with bread, and a bit of butter in it, for the price of a pint of beer; viz., three halfpence. This was a more comfortable as well as a cheaper breakfast, and kept their heads clearer. Those who continued sotting with their beer all day, were often, by not paying, out of credit at the alehouse, and used to make interest with me to get beer, their light, as they phrased it, being out. I watched the pay-table on Saturday night, and collected what I stood engaged for them, having to pay sometimes near thirty shillings a week on their accounts. This and my being esteemed a pretty gool rig-ite, that is a jocular verbal satyrist, supported my consequence in the society. My constant attendance, (I never making a St. Monday,) recommended me to the master; and my uncommon quickness at A printing-honse is always called a chapel by the workmen, because printing was first carried on in England in an ancient chapel, and the title has been preserved by tradition. The bien venu among the printers, answers to the terms entrance and footing among mechanics; thus a journeyman, on entering a printing house, was accustomed to pay one or more gallons of beer for the good of the chapel; this custom was falling into disuse thirty years ago-it is very properly rejected entirely in the United States. composing occasioned my being put upon work of dispatch, which was generally better paid; so I went on now very agreeably. My lodgings in Little Britain being too remote, I found another in Duke street, opposite to the Romish chapel. It was up three pair of stairs backwards, at an Italian warehouse. A widow lady kept the house; she had a daughter, and a maid servant, and a journeyman who attended the warehouse, but lodged abroad. After sending to inquire my character at the house where I last lodged, she agreed to take me in at the same rate, 3s. 6d. per week; cheaper, as she said, from the protection she expected in having a man to lodge in the house. She was a widow, an elderly woman; had been bred a Protestant, being a clergyman's daughter, but was converted to. the Catholic religion by her husband, whose memory she much revered; had lived much among people of distinction, and knew a thousand anecdotes of them, as far back as the times of Charles the Second. She was lame in her knees with the gout, and therefore seldom stirred out of her room; so sometimes wanted company; and hers was so highly amusing to me, that I was sure to spend an evening with her whenever she desired it. Our supper was only half an anchovy each, on a very little slice of bread and butter, and half a pint of ale between us; but the entertainment was in her conversation. My always keeping good hours, and giving little trouble in the family, made her unwilling to part with me; so that when I talked of a lodging I had heard of, nearer my business, for 2s. a week, which, intent as I was on saving money, made some difference, she bid me not think of it, for she would abate me 2s. a week for the future; so I remained with her at 1s 6d. as long as I staid in London. In a garret of her house there lived a maiden lady of seventy, in the most retired manner, of whom my landlady gave me this account: that she was a Roman Catholic, had been sent abroad when young, and lodged in a nunnery with an intent of becoming a nun; but the country not agreeing with her, she returned to England, where there being no nunnery, she had vowed to lead the life of a nun, as near as might be done in those circumstances. Accordingly, she had given all her estate to charitable purposes, reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on, and out of this sum she still gave a part in charity, living herself on water-gruel only, and using no fire but to boil it. She had lived many years in that garret, being permitted to remain there gratis by successive Catholic tenants of the house below, as they deemed it a blessing to have her there. A priest visited her, to confess her every day: "from this I asked her," said my landlady, "how she, as she lived, could possibly find so much employ |