tent to the functions of a country attorney; soon be- | years of maturity, and were married. I was the last came an essential personage in the affairs of the village; of the sons, and the youngest child, excepting two and was one of the chief movers of every public enter- daughters. I was born at Boston, in New England, on prise, as well relative to the county as the town of the 17th of January 1706.* My mother, the second Northampton. A variety of remarkable incidents were wife, was Abiah Folger, daughter of Peter Folger, one told us of him at Eaton. After enjoying the esteem of the first colonists of New England, of whom Cotton and patronage of Lord Halifax, he died January 6, Mather makes honourable mention, in his Ecclesiastical 1702, precisely four years before I was born. The History of that province, as "a pious and learned Engrecital that was made us of his life and character, by lishman," if I rightly recollect his expressions. I have some aged persons of the village, struck you I remem- been told of his having written a variety of little pieces; ber as extraordinary, from its analogy to what you but there appears to be only one in print, which I met knew of myself. "Had he died," said you, "just four with many years ago. It was published in the year 1675, years later, one would have supposed a transmigration and is in familiar verse, agreeably to the taste of the of souls." times and the country. The author addresses himself to the governors for the time being, speaks for liberty of conscience, and in favour of the anabaptists, quakers, and other sectaries, who had suffered persecution. To this persecution he attributes the wars with the natives, and other calamities which afflicted the country, regarding them as the judgments of God in punishment of so odious an offence, and he exhorts the government to the repeal of laws so contrary to charity. The poem appeared to be written with a manly freedom and a pleasing simplicity. I recollect the six concluding lines, though I have forgotten the order of words of the two first; the sense of which was, that his censures were dictated by benevolence, and that, of consequence, he wished to be known as the author; "because," said he, John, to the best of my belief, was brought up to the trade of a wool-dyer. Benjamin served his apprenticeship in London to a silk-dyer. He was an industrious man-I remember him well; for, while I was a child, he joined my father at Boston, and lived for some years in the house with us. A particular affection had always subsisted between my father and him; and I was his godson. He arrived to a great age. He left behind him two quarto volumes of poems in manuscript, consisting of little fugitive pieces addressed to his friends. He had invented a short-hand, which he taught me, but, having never made use of it, I have now forgotten it. He was a man of piety, and a constant attendant on the best preachers, whose sermons he took a pleasure in writing down according to the expeditory method"I hate from my very soul dissimulation." he had devised. Many volumes were thus collected by him. He was also extremely fond of politics; too much so, perhaps, for his situation. I lately found in London a collection which he had made of all the principal pamphlets relative to public affairs, from the year 1641 to 1717. Many volumes are wanting, as appears by the series of numbers; but there still remain eight in folio, and twenty-four in quarto and octavo. The collection had fallen into the hands of a second-hand bookseller, who, knowing me by having sold me some books, brought it to me. My uncle, it seems, had left it behind him on his departure for America, about fifty years ago. I found various notes of his writing in the margins. His grandson, Samuel, is now living at Boston. Our humble family had early embraced the principles of the Reformation. They remained faithfully attached during the reign of Queen Mary, when they were in danger of being molested on account of their zeal against popery. They had an English Bible, and to conceal it the more securely, they conceived the project of fastening it open, with pack-threads across the leaves, on the inside of the lid of a homely domestic utensil. When my grandfather wished to read to his family, he reversed the lid of the utensil upon his knees, and passed the leaves from one side to the other, which were held down on each by the pack-thread. One of the children was stationed at the door, to give notice if he saw the proctor (an officer of the spiritual court) make his appearance; in that case, the lid was restored to its place, with the Bible concealed under it as before. I had this anecdote from my uncle Benja min. The whole family preserved its attachment to the Church of England till towards the close of the reign of Charles II., when certain ministers, who had been rejected as nonconformists, having held conventicles in Northamptonshire, they were joined by Benjamin and Josias, who adhered to them ever after. The rest of the family continued in the episcopal church. From Sherburn, where I dwell, I therefore put my name; Peter Folger. My brothers were all put apprentices to different trades. With respect to myself, I was sent, at the age of eight years, to a grammar-school. My father destined me for the church, and already regarded me as the chaplain of the family. The promptitude with which from my infancy I had learned to read-for I do not remember to have been ever without this acquirementand the encouragement of his friends, who assured him that I should one day certainly become a man of letters, confirmed him in this design. My uncle Benjamin approved also of the scheme, and promised to give me all his volumes of sermons, written as I have said in the short-hand of his invention, if I would take the pains to learn it. I remained, however, scarcely a year at the grammarschool, although in this short interval I had risen from the middle to the head of my class, from thence to the class immediately above, and was to pass, at the end of the year, to the one next in order. But my father, burdened with a numerous family, found that he was incapable, without subjecting himself to difficulties, of providing for the expenses of a collegiate education; and considering, besides, as I heard him say to his friends, that persons so educated were often poorly provided for, he renounced his first intentions, took me from the grammar-school, and sent me to a school for writing and arithmetic, kept by a Mr George Brownwell, who was a skilful master, and succeeded very well in his profession by employing gentle means only, *[Boston is the capital of the state of Massachusetts, and the largest town in New England, 210 miles north-east of New York, and 300 miles north-east of Philadelphia. It is situated at the bottom of Massachusetts bay, at the mouth of the Charles river, and stands principally on a small peninsula of elevated ground, which is connected with the continent by a narrow neck of land and several bridges. The town was begun in 1630, principally by the settlement of religious and political refugees, or pilgrims, from England; and to one of these classes of settlers Franklin's father seems to have belonged. The stern inflexibility of prin My father, Josias, married early in life. He went, with his wife and three children, to New England, about the year 1682. Conventicles being at that time prohibited by law and frequently disturbed, some considerable persons of his acquaintance determined to go to America, where they hoped to enjoy the free exer- ciple of the founders of the city has always characterised its cise of their religion, and my father was prevailed on to accompany them. My father had also, by the same wife, four children born in America, and ten others by a second wife, making in all seventeen. I remember to have seen thirteen scated together at his table, who all arrived at inhabitants. At the time of Franklin's birth, the number of inhabitants was about 10,000; in 1829 they amounted to 60,000— which shows a small increase in comparison with most other American towns. It has for a number of years enjoyed the reputation of being the chief mart of literature in the United States. A considerable number of newspapers and other periodical publications issue from its press.] and such as were calculated to encourage his scholars. | table, never discussed whether they were well or ill Under him I soon acquired an excellent hand; but I failed in arithmetic, and made therein no sort of progress. At ten years of age, I was called home to assist my father in his occupation, which was that of soap-boiler and tallow-chandler-a business to which he had served no apprenticeship, but which he embraced on his arrival in New England, because he found his own-that of dyer in too little request to enable him to maintain his family. I was accordingly employed in cutting the wicks, filling the moulds, taking care of the shop, car-happened to me to be in company with persons, who, rying messages, &c. This business displeased me, and I felt a strong inclination for a sea life; but my father set his face against it. The vicinity of the water, however, gave me frequent opportunities of venturing myself both upon and within it, and I soon acquired the art of swimming, and of managing a boat. When embarked with other children, the helm was commonly deputed to me, particularly on difficult occasions; and, in every other project, I was almost always the leader of the troop, whom I sometimes involved in embarrassments. I shall give an instance of this, which demonstrates an early disposition of mind for public enterprises, though the one in question was not conducted by justice. The mill pond was terminated on one side by a marsh, upon the borders of which we were accustomed to take our stand, at high water, to angle for small fish. By dint of walking, we had converted the place into a perfect quagmire. My proposal was to erect a wharf that should afford us firm footing; and I pointed out to my companions a large heap of stones, intended for the building a new house near the marsh, and which were well adapted for our purpose. Accordingly, when the workmen retired in the evening, I assembled a number of my play-fellows, and by labouring diligently, like ants, sometimes four of us uniting our strength to carry a single stone, we removed them all, and constructed our little quay. The workmen were surprised the next morning at not finding their stones, which had been conveyed to our wharf. Inquiries were made respecting the authors of this conveyance; we were discovered; complaints were exhibited against us; and many of us underwent correction on the part of our parents;-and though I strenuously defended the utility of the work, my father at length convinced me, that nothing which was not strictly honest could be useful. It will not, perhaps, be uninteresting to you to know what sort of a man my father was. He had an excellent constitution, was of a middle size, but well made and strong, and extremely active in whatever he undertook. He designed with a degree of neatness, and knew a little of music. His voice was sonorous and agreeable; so that when he sung a psalm or hymn, with the accompaniment of his violin, as was his frequent practice in an evening, when the labours of the day were finished, it was truly delightful to hear him. He was versed also in mechanics, and could, upon occasion, use the tools of a variety of trades. But his greatest excellence was a sound understanding and solid judgment in matters of prudence, both in public and private life. In the former indeed he never engaged, because his numerous family, and the mediocrity of his fortune, kept him unremittingly employed in the duties of his profession. But I well remember that the leading men of the place used frequently to come and ask his advice respecting the affairs of the town, or of the church to which he belonged, and that they paid much deference to his opinion. Individuals were also in the habit of consulting him in their private affairs, and he was often chosen arbiter between contending parties. He was fond of having at his table, as often as possible, some friends or well-informed neighbours, capable of rational conversation; and he was always careful to introduce useful or ingenious topics of discourse, which might tend to form the minds of his children. By this means he early attracted our attention to what was just, prudent, and beneficial in the conduct of life. He never talked of the meats which appeared upon the dressed, of a good or bad flavour, high seasoned, or otherwise, preferable or inferior to this or that dish of a similar kind. Thus accustomed, from my infancy, to the utmost inattention as to these objects, I have been perfectly regardless of what kind of food was before me; and I pay so little attention to it even now, that it would be a hard matter for me to recollect, a few hours after I had dined, of what my dinner had consisted. When travelling, I have particularly experienced the advantage of this habit; for it has often having a more delicate, because a more exercised taste, have suffered in many cases considerable inconvenience, while, as to myself, I have had nothing to desire. My mother was likewise possessed of an excellent constitution. She suckled all her ten children, and I never heard either her or my father complain of any other disorder than that of which they died: my father at the age of eighty-seven, and my mother at eightyfive. They are buried together at Boston, where, a few years ago, I placed a marble over their grave, with this inscription: "Here lie JOSIAS FRANKLIN and ABIAH his wife. They lived together with reciprocal affection for fifty-nine years; and without private fortune, without lucrative employment, by assiduous labour and honest industry, decently supported a numerous family, and educated with success thirteen children and seven grandchildren. Let this example, reader, encourage thee diligently to discharge the duties of thy calling, and to rely on the support of Divine Providence. He was pious and prudent; she discreet and virtuous. Their youngest son, from a sentiment of filial duty, consecrates this stone to their memory." I perceive, by my rambling digressions, that I am growing old. But we do not dress for a private company as for a formal ball. This deserves, perhaps, the name of negligence. To return to my own narrative. I continued employed in my father's trade for the space of two years; that is to say, till I arrived at twelve years of age. About this time my brother John, who had served his apprenticeship in London, having quitted my father, and being married and settled in business on his own account at Rhode Island, I was destined, to all appearance, to supply his place, and be a candlemaker all my life but my dislike of this occupation continuing, my father was apprehensive, that if a more agreeable one were not offered me, I might play the truant and escape to sea; as, to his extreme mortification, my brother Josias had done. He therefore took me sometimes to see masons, coopers, braziers, joiners, and other mechanics, employed at their work, in order to discover the bent of my inclination, and fix it if he could upon some occupation that might retain me on shore. I have since, in consequence of these visits, derived no small pleasure from seeing skilful workmen handle their tools; and it has proved of considerable benefit, to have acquired thereby sufficient knowledge to be able to make little things for myself, when I have had no mechanic at hand, and to construct small machines for my experiments, while the idea I have conceived has been fresh and strongly impressed on my imagination. My father at length decided that I should be a cutler, and I was placed for some days upon trial with my cousin Samuel, son of my uncle Benjamin, who had learned this trade in London, and had established himself at Boston. But the premium he required for my apprenticeship displeasing my father, I was recalled home. From my earliest years I had been passionately fond of reading; and I had laid out in books all the money I could procure. I was particularly pleased with accounts of voyages. My first acquisition was Bunyan's collection in small separate volumes. These I afterwards sold, in order to buy an historical collection by R. Burton, which consisted of small cheap volume, amounting in all to about forty or fifty. My father's little library was principally made up of books of prac tical and polemical theology. I read the greatest part | lawyers, fellows of universities, and persons of every of them. I have since often regretted that at a time profession educated at Edinburgh, excepted. when I had so great a thirst for knowledge, more eligible books had not fallen into my hands, as it was then a point decided that I should not be educated for the church. There was also among my father's books Plutarch's Lives, in which I read continually, and I still regard as advantageously employed the time I devoted to them. I found besides a work of De Foe's, entitled an Essay on Projects, from which, perhaps, I derived impressions that have since influenced some of the principal events of my life. Collins and I fell one day into an argument relative to the education of women; namely, whether it was proper to instruct them in the sciences, and whether they were competent to the study. Collins supported the negative, and affirmed that the task was beyond their capacity; I maintained the opposite opinion, a little perhaps for the pleasure of disputing. He was naturally more eloquent than I; words flowed copiously from his lips; and frequently I thought myself vanquished, more by his volubility than by the force of his argument. We separated without coming to an agreement upon this point; and as we were not to see each other again for some time, I committed my thoughts to paper, made a fair copy, and sent it to him. He answered, and I replied. Three or four letters had been written by each, when my father chanced to light upon my papers and read them. Without entering into the merits of the cause, he embraced the opporHe observed, that though I had the advantage of my adversary in correct spelling and pointing, which I owed to my occupation, I was greatly his inferior in elegance of expression, in arrangement, and perspicuity. Of this he convinced me by several examples. I felt the justice of his remarks, became more attentive to language, and resolved to make every effort to improve my style. My inclination for books at last determined my father to make me a printer, though he had already a son in that profession. My brother had returned from England in 1717 with a press and types, in order to establish a printing-house at Boston. This business pleased me much better than that of my father, though I had still a predilection for the sea. To prevent the effects which might result from this inclination, my father was impatient to see me engaged with my brother. Itunity of speaking to me upon my manner of writing. held back for some time; at length, however, I suffered myself to be persuaded, and signed my indentures, being then only twelve years of age. It was agreed that I should serve as apprentice to the age of twenty-one, and should receive journeyman's wages only during the last year. In a very short time I made great proficiency in this business, and became very serviceable to my brother. I had now an opportunity of procuring better books. The acquaintance I necessarily formed with booksellers' apprentices, enabled me to borrow a volume now and then, which I never failed to return punctually and without injury. How often has it happened to me to pass the greater part of the night in reading by my bedside, when the book had been lent me in the evening, and was to be returned the next morning, lest it might be missed or wanted. At length Mr Matthew Adams, an ingenious tradesman, who had a handsome collection of books, and who frequented our printing-house, took notice of me. He invited me to see his library, and had the goodness to lend me any books I was desirous of reading. I then took a strange fancy for poetry, and composed several little pieces. My brother, thinking he might find his account in it, encouraged me, and engaged me to write two ballads. One, called The Light-house Tragedy, contained an account of the shipwreck of Captain Worthilake and his two daughters; the other was a sailor's song on the capture of the noted pirate called Teach, or Black-beard. They were wretched verses in point of style-mere blind-men's ditties. When printed, he dispatched me about the town to sell them. The first had a prodigious run, because the event was recent, and had made a great noise. My vanity was flattered by this success; but my father checked my exultation, by ridiculing my productions, and telling me that versifiers were always poor. I thus escaped the misfortune of being a very wretched poet. But as the faculty of writing prose has been of great service to me in the course of my life, and principally contributed to my advancement, I shall relate by what means, situated as I was, I acquired the small skill I may possess in that way. Amidst these resolves an odd volume of the Spectator fell into my hands. This was a publication I had never seen. I bought the volume, and read it again and again. I was enchanted with it, thought the style excellent, and wished it were in my power to imitate it. With this view I selected some of the papers, made short summaries of the sense of each period, and put them for a few days aside. I then, without looking at the book, endeavoured to restore the essays to their due form, and to express each thought at length, as it was in the original, employing the most appropriate words that occurred to my mind. I afterward compared my Spectator with the original; I perceived some faults, which I corrected: but I found that I wanted a fund of words, if I may so express myself, and a facility of recollecting and employing them, which I thought I should by that time have acquired, had I continued to make verses. The continual need of words of the same meaning, but of different lengths for the measure, or of different sounds for the rhyme, would have obliged me to seek for a variety of synonymes, and have rendered me master of them. From this belief, I took some of the tales of the Spectator and turned them into verse; and, after a time, when I had sufficiently forgotten them, I again converted them into prose. Sometimes, also, I mingled all my summaries together; and, a few weeks after, endeavoured to arrange them in the best order, before I attempted to form the periods and complete the essays. This I did with a view of acquiring method in the arrangement of my thoughts. On comparing afterwards my performance with the original, many faults were apparent, which I corrected; but I had sometimes the satisfaction to think, that, in certain particulars of little importance, I had been fortunate enough to improve the order of thought or the style; and this encouraged me to hope that I should succeed, in time, in writing decently in the English language, which was one of the great objects of my ambition. There was in the town another young man, a great lover of books, of the name of John Collins, with whom I was intimately connected. We frequently engaged in dispute, and were indeed so fond of argumentation, that nothing was so agreeable to us as a war of words. This contentious temper, I would observe by the bye, The time which I devoted to these exercises, and to is in danger of becoming a very bad habit, and fre-reading, was the evening after my day's labour was quently renders a man's company insupportable, as being no otherwise capable of indulgence than by an indiscriminate contradiction, independently of the acrimony and discord it introduces into conversation; and is often productive of dislike, and even hatred, between persons to whom friendship is indispensably necessary. I acquired it by reading, while I lived with my father, books of religious controversy. I have since remarked, that men of sense seldom fall into this error; finished, the morning before it began, and Sundays when I could escape attending divine service. While I lived with my father, he had insisted on my punctual attendance on public worship, and I still indeed considered it as a duty, but a duty which I thought I had no time to practise. When about sixteen years of age, a work of Tryon fell into my hands, in which he recommends vegetable diet. I determined to observe it. My brother being a APPRENTICED AS A PRINTER. 7 bachelor, did not keep house, but boarded with his ap- | occasion to impress my opinion on the minds of others, prentices in a neighbouring family. My refusing to eat and persuade them to the adoption of the measures Í animal food was found inconvenient, and I was often have suggested. And since the chief ends of converscolded for my singularity. I attended to the mode insation are to inform or to be informed, to please or to which Tryon prepared some of his dishes, particularly persuade, I could wish that intelligent and well-meanhow to boil potatoes and rice, and make hasty-puddings. ing men would not themselves diminish the power they I then said to my brother, that if he would allow me per possess of being useful, by a positive and presumptuous week half what he paid for my board, I would undertake manner of expressing themselves, which scarcely ever to maintain myself. The offer was instantly embraced, fails to disgust the hearer, and is only calculated to and I soon found that of what he gave me I was able to excite opposition, and defeat every purpose for which save half. This was a new fund for the purchase of the faculty of speech has been bestowed on man. In books and other advantages resulted to me from the short, if you wish to inform, a positive and dogmatical plan. When my brother and his workmen left the manner of advancing your opinion may provoke conprinting-house to go to dinner, I remained behind; and tradiction, and prevent your being heard with attention. dispatching my frugal meal, which frequently consisted On the other hand, if, with a desire of being informed, of a biscuit only, or a slice of bread and a bunch of rai- and of benefiting by the knowledge of others, you exsins, or a bun from the pastry-cook's, with a glass of press yourself as being strongly attached to your own water, I had the rest of the time, till their return, for opinions, modest and sensible men, who do not love study; and my progress therein was proportioned to disputation, will leave you in tranquil possession of your that clearness of ideas, and quickness of conception, errors. By following such a method, you can rarely which are the fruit of temperance in eating and drinking. hope to please your auditors, conciliate their good-will, It was about this period that, having one day been put or work conviction on those whom you may be desirto the blush for my ignorance in the art of calculation, ous of gaining over to your views. Pope judiciously which I had twice failed to learn while at school, I took observesCocker's Treatise of Arithmetic, and went through it myself with the utmost ease. I also read a book of Navigation by Seller and Sturmy, and made myself master of the little geometry it contains, but I never proceeded far in this science. Nearly at the same time I read Locke on the Human Understanding, and the Art of Thinking by Messrs du Port Royal. While labouring to form and improve my style, I met with an English Grammar, which I believe was Greenwood's, having at the end of it two little essays on rhetoric and logic. In the latter I found a model of disputation after the manner of Socrates. Shortly after, I procured Xenophon's work, entitled Memorable Things of Socrates, in which are various examples of the same method. Charmed to a degree of enthusiasm with this mode of disputing, I adopted it, and renouncing blunt contradiction, and direct and positive argument, I assumed the character of an humble questioner.* The perusal of Shaftesbury and Collins had made me doubtful of various points of a religious nature; and I found Socrates's method of argument to be both the safest for myself, as well as the most embarrassing to those against whom I employed it. It soon afforded me singular pleasure; I incessantly practised it; and became very adroit in obtaining, even from persons of superior understanding, concessions of which they did not foresee the consequence. Thus I involved them in difficulties from which they were unable to extricate themselves, and sometimes obtained victories which neither my cause nor my arguments merited. This method I continued to employ for some years; but I afterwards abandoned it by degrees, retaining only the habit of expressing myself with modest diffidence, and never making use, when I advanced any proposition which might be controverted, of the words certainly, undoubtedly, or any others that might give the appearance of being obstinately attached to my opinion. I rather said, I imagine, I suppose, or, it appears to me, that such a thing is so or so, for such and such reasons; it is so, if I am not mistaken. This habit has, I think, been of considerable advantage to me, when I have had or, *[Socrates was an eminent Grecian philosopher and instructor of youth, who flourished about 430 years before Christ. Xenophon was one of his pupils and admirers. The system of reason Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And in the same poem he afterward advises us To speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence. He might have added to these lines, one that he has coupled elsewhere, in my opinion, with less propriety. It is this: For want of modesty is want of sense. If you ask why I say with less propriety, I must give Immodest words admit but this defence- But I leave the decision of this to better judges than racters, who, as an amusement, wrote short essays for Among his friends he had a number of literary chathe paper, which gave it reputation and increased the sale. These gentlemen frequently came to our house. I heard the conversation that passed, and the accounts they gave of the favourable reception of their writings with the public. I was tempted to try my hand among them; but, being still a child as it were, I was fearful that my brother might be unwilling to print in his paper any performance of which he should know me to be the author. I therefore contrived to disguise my ing or arguing which Socrates introduced, and which is known it at night under the door of the printing-house, where hand, and, having written an anonymous piece, I placed by the name of the Socratic method, consisted in his affecting to it was found the next morning. My brother commuknow nothing of the point in dispute, and interrogating his opponent as if for instruction, until, by question after question, he led nicated it to his friends, when they came as usual to him either into gross inconsistency, or to overturn his own argu- see him, who read it, commented upon it within my ment by his replies. This ironical mode of argument is too favour-hearing; and I had the exquisite pleasure to find that able to the questioner to be fair, and is better calculated to confuse it met with their approbation, and that in their varian adversary than to elicit truth. In all likelihood, Socrates would never leave the question in the condition to which he brought it by his queries, but would conclude as a judge by summing up all, and making his auditors sensible of the right and wrong of the argument.] *[In 1828, the number of newspapers published in the United States was 802, the aggregate circulation of which annually was 55,000,000 of sheets; being a third more than was published in Great Britain and Ireland.] 8 PROCEEDS TO PHILADELPHIA. ous conjectures they made respecting the author, no one was mentioned who did not enjoy a high reputation in the country for talents and genius. I now supposed myself fortunate in my judges, and began to suspect that they were not such excellent writers as I had hitherto supposed them. Be this as it may, encouraged by this little adventure, I wrote and sent to press, in the same way, many other pieces, which were equally approved; keeping the secret till my slender stock of information and knowledge for such performances was pretty completely exhausted, when I made myself known. My brother, upon this discovery, began to entertain a little more respect for me; but he still regarded himself as my master, and treated me as an apprentice. He thought himself entitled to the same services from me as from any other person. On the contrary, I conceived that in many instances he was too rigorous, and that, on the part of a brother, I had a right to expect greater indulgence. Our disputes were frequently brought before my father; and either my brother was generally in the wrong, or I was the better pleader of the two, for judgment was commonly given in my favour. But my brother was passionate, and often had recourse to blows a circumstance which I took in very ill part. This severe and tyrannical treatment contributed, I believe, to imprint on my mind that aversion to arbitrary power, which, during my whole life, I have ever preserved. My apprenticeship became insupportable to me, and I continually sighed for an opportunity of shortening it, which at length unexpectedly offered. An article inserted in our paper, upon some political subject which I have now forgotten, gave offence to the Assembly. My brother was taken into custody, censured, and ordered into confinement for a month, because, as I presume, he would not discover the author. I was also taken up, and examined before the council; but, though I gave them no satisfaction, they contented themselves with reprimanding, and then dismissed me; considering me probably as bound, in quality of apprentice, to keep my master's secrets. The imprisonment of my brother kindled my resentment, notwithstanding our private quarrels. During its continuance the management of the paper was entrusted to me, and I was bold enough to insert some pasquinades against the governors, which highly pleased my brother, while others began to look upon me in an unfavourable point of view, considering me as a young wit, inclined to satire and lampoon. My brother's enlargement was accompanied with an arbitrary order from the House of the Assembly, "That James Franklin should no longer print the newspaper entitled the New England Courant."" In this conjuncture, we held a consultation of our friends at the printing-house, in order to determine what was to be done. Some proposed to evade the order, by changing the title of the paper: but my brother, foreseeing inconveniences that would result from this step, thought it better that it should in future be printed in the name of Benjamin Franklin; and, to avoid the censure of the Assembly, who might charge him with still printing the paper himself, under the name of his apprentice, it was resolved that my old indentures should be given up to me, with a full and entire discharge written on the back, in order to be produced upon an emergency: but that, to secure to my brother the benefit of my service, I should sign a new contract, which should be kept secret during the remainder of the term. This was a very shallow arrangement. It was, however, carried into immediate execution, and the paper continued, in consequence, to make its appearance for some months in my name. At length, a new difference arising between my brother and me, I ventured to take advantage of my liberty, presuming that he would not dare to produce the new contract. It was undoubtedly dishonourable to avail myself of this circumstance, and I reckon this action as one of the first errors of my life; but I was little capable of estimating it at its true value, embittered as my mind had been by the recollection of the blows I had received. Exclusively of his passionate treatment of me, my brother was by no means a man of an ill temper, and perhaps my manners had too much impertinence not to afford it a very natural pretext. PROCEEDS TO PHILADELPHIA. When my brother knew that it was my determination to quit him, he wished to prevent my finding employment elsewhere. He went to all the printing-houses in the town, and prejudiced the masters against me; who accordingly refused to employ me. The idea then suggested itself to me of going to New York, the nearest town in which there was a printing-office. Farther reflection confirmed me in the design of leaving Boston, where I had already rendered myself an object of suspicion to the governing party. It was probable, from the arbitrary proceedings of the Assembly in the affair of my brother, that, by remaining, I should soon have been exposed to difficulties, which I had the greater reason to apprehend, as, from my indiscreet disputes upon the subject of religion, I began to be regarded by pious souls with horror, either as an apostate or an atheist. I came therefore to a resolution: but my father siding with my brother, I presumed that if I attempted to depart openly, measures would be taken to prevent me. My friend Collins undertook to favour my flight. He agreed for my passage with the Captain of a New York sloop, to whom he represented me as a young man of his acquaintance, who had an affair with a girl of bad character, whose parents wished to compel me to marry her, and of consequence I could neither make my appearance, nor go off publicly. I sold part of my books to procure a small sum of money, and went privately on board the sloop. By favour of a good wind, I found myself in three days at New York (1723), more than two hundred miles from my home, at the age only of seventeen years, without knowing an individual in the place, and with very little money in my pocket. The inclination I had felt for a seafaring life was entirely subsided, or I should now have been able to gratify it; but, having another trade, and believing myself to be a tolerable workman, I hesitated not to offer my services to the old Mr William Bradford, who had been the first printer in Pennsylvania, but had quitted the province on account of a quarrel with George Keith, the governor. He could not give me employment himself, having little to do, and already as many persons as he wanted; but he told me that his son, printer at Philadelphia, had lately lost his principal workman, Aquila Rose, who was dead, and that, if I would go thither, he believed that he would engage me. Philadelphia was a hundred miles farther. I hesitated not to embark in a boat, in order to repair, by the shortest cut of the sea, to Amboy, leaving my trunk and effects to come after me by the usual and more tedious conveyance. In crossing the bay we met with a squall, which shattered to pieces our rotten sails, prevented us from entering the Kill, and threw us upon Long Island. During the squall, a drunken Dutchman, who like myself was a passenger in the boat, fell into the sea. At the moment he was sinking, I seized him by the fore-top, saved him, and drew him on board. This immersion sobered him a little, so that he fell asleep, after having taken from his pocket a volume which he requested me to dry. This volume I found to be my old favourite work, Bunyan's Pilgrim, in Dutch, a beautiful impression on fine paper, with copperplate engravings a dress in which I had never seen it in its original language. I have since learned that it has been translated into almost all the languages of Europe, and, next to the Bible, I am persuaded it is one of the books that has had the greatest spread. Honest John is the first that I know of who has mixed narrative and dialogue together-a mode of writing very engaging to the reader, who, in the most interesting passages, finds himself admitted as it were into the company, and present at the conversation. De Foe has imitated it with success in his Robinson Crusoe, his Moll Flanders, |