we found him, Neighbor, says Bradford, I have brought to see you a young
Man of your Business, perhaps you may want such a One. He ask'd me a few
Questions, put a Composing Stick in my Hand to see how I work'd, and
then said he would employ me soon, tho' he had just then nothing for me
to do. And taking old Bradford whom he had never seen before, to be one
of the Towns People that had a Good Will for him, enter'd into a
Conversation on his present Undertaking and Prospects; while Bradford
not discovering that he was the other Printer's Father, on Keimer's
saying he expected soon to get the greatest Part of the Business into
his own Hands, drew him on by artful Questions and starting little
Doubts, to explain all his Views, what Interest he rely'd on, and in
what manner he intended to proceed.--I who stood by and heard all, saw
immediately that one of them was a crafty old Sophister, and the other a
mere Novice. Bradford left me with Keimer, who was greatly surpriz'd
when I told him who the old Man was.
Keimer's Printing House I found, consisted of an old shatter'd Press,
and one small worn-out Fount of English, which he was then using
himself, composing in it an Elegy on Aquila Rose before-mentioned, an
ingenious young Man of excellent Character much respected in the Town,
Clerk of the Assembly, and a pretty Poet. Keimer made Verses, too, but
very indifferently. He could not be said to write them, for his Manner
was to compose them in the Types directly out of his Head; so there
being no Copy, but one Pair of Cases, and the Elegy likely to require
all the Letter[s], no one could help him.--I endeavour'd to put his
Press (which he had not yet us'd, and of which he understood nothing)
into Order fit to be work'd with; and promising to come and print off
his Elegy as soon as he should have got it ready, I return'd to
Bradford's who gave me a little Job to do for the present, [and] there I
lodged and dieted. A few Days after[,] Keimer sent for me to print off
the Elegy. And now he had got another Pair of Cases, and a Pamphlet to
reprint, on which he set me to work.--
These two Printers I found poorly Qualified for their Business. Bradford
had not been bred to it, and was very illiterate; and Keimer tho'
something of a Scholar, was a mere Compositor, knowing nothing of
Presswork. He had been one of the French Prophets and could act their
enthusiastic Agitations. At this time he did not profess any particular
Religion, but something of all on occasion; was very ignorant of the
World, and had, as I afterward found, a good deal of the Knave in his
Composition. He did not like my Lodging at Bradford's while I work'd
with him. He had a House indeed, but without Furniture, so he could not
lodge me: But he got me a Lodging at Mr. Read's beforementioned, who was
the Owner of his House. And my Chest and Clothes being come by this
time, I made rather a more respectable Appearance in the Eyes of Miss
Read than I had done when she first happen'd to see me eating my Roll in
the Street.--
I began now to have some Acquaintance among the young People of the
Town, that were Lovers of Reading with whom I spent my Evenings very
pleasantly and gaining Money by my Industry and Frugality, I lived very
agreably, forgetting Boston as much as I could, and not desiring that
any there should know where I resided, except my Friend Collins who was
in my Secret, and kept it when I wrote to him. At length an Incident
happened that sent me back again much sooner than I had intended.--
I had a Brother-in-law, Robert Holmes, Master of a Sloop, that traded
between Boston and Delaware. He being at New Castle 40 Miles below
Philadelphia, heard there of me, and wrote me a Letter, mentioning the
Concern of my Friends in Boston at my abrupt Departure, assuring me of
their Good will to me, and that every thing would be accommodated to my
Mind if I would return, to which he exhorted me very earnestly. I wrote
an Answer to his Letter, thank'd him for his Advice, but stated my
Reasons for quitting Boston fully, and in such a Light as to convince
him I was not so wrong as he had apprehended. Sir William Keith[3]
Governor of the Province, was then at New Castle, and Capt. Holmes
happening to be in Company with him when my Letter came to hand, spoke
to him of me, and show'd him the Letter. The Governor read it, and
seem'd surpriz'd when he was told my Age. He said I appear'd a young Man
of promising Parts, and therefore should be encouraged: The Printers at
Philadelphia were wretched ones, and if I would set up there, he made
no doubt I should succeed; for his Part, he would procure me the publick
Business, and do me every other Service in his Power. This my
Brother-in-law afterwards told me in Boston. But I knew as yet nothing
of it; when one Day Keimer and I being at Work together near the Window,
we saw the Governor and another Gentleman (which prov'd to be Col.
French, of New Castle) finely dress'd, come directly across the Street
to our House, and heard them at the Door. Keimer ran down immediately,
thinking it a Visit to him. But the Governor enquir'd for me, came up,
and with a Condescension and Politeness I had been quite unus'd to, made
me many Compliments, desired to be acquainted with me, blam'd me kindly
for not having made myself known to him when I first came to the Place,
and would have me away with him to the Tavern where he was going with
Col. French to taste as he said some excellent Madeira. I was not a
little surpriz'd, and Keimer star'd like a Pig poison'd. I went however
with the Governor and Col. French, to a Tavern [at] the Corner of Third
Street, and over the Madeira he propos'd my Setting up my Business, laid
before me the Probabilities of Success, and both he and Col. French,
assur'd me I should have their Interest and Influence in procuring the
Publick Business of both Governments. On my doubting whether my Father
would assist me in it, Sir William said he would give me a Letter to
him, in which he would state the Advantages, and he did not doubt of
prevailing with him. So it was concluded I should return to Boston in
the first Vessel with the Governor's Letter recommending me to my
Father. In the mean time the Intention was to be kept secret, and I went
on working with Keimer as usual, the Governor sending for me now and
then to dine with him, a very great Honour I thought it, and conversing
with me in the most affable, familiar, and friendly manner imaginable.
About the End of April 1724 a little Vessel offer'd for Boston. I took
leave of Keimer as going to see my Friends. The Governor gave me an
ample Letter, saying many flattering things of me to my Father, and
strongly recommending the Project of my setting up at Philadelphia, as a
Thing that must make my Fortune. We struck on a Shoal in going down the
Bay and sprung a Leak, we had a blustering time at Sea, and were oblig'd
to pump almost continually, at which I took my Turn. We arriv'd safe
however at Boston in about a Fortnight.--I had been absent Seven Months
and my Friends had heard nothing of me; for my Br. Holmes was not yet
return'd; and had not written about me. My unexpected Appearance
surpriz'd the Family; all were however very glad to see me and made me
Welcome, except my Brother. I went to see him at his Printing-House: I
was better dress'd than ever while in his Service, having a genteel new
Suit from Head to foot, a Watch, and my Pockets lin'd with near Five
Pounds Sterling in Silver. He receiv'd me not very frankly, look'd me
all over, and turn'd to his Work again. The JourneyMen were inquisitive
where I had been, what sort of a Country it was, and how I lik'd it? I
prais'd it much, and the happy Life I led in it; expressing strongly my
Intention of returning to it; and one of them asking what kind of Money
we had there, I produc'd a handful of Silver and spread it before them,
which was a kind of Raree Show they had not been us'd to, Paper being
the Money of Boston. Then I took an Opportunity of letting them see my
Watch: and lastly, (my Brother still grum and sullen) I gave them a
Piece of Eight to drink, and took my Leave.--This Visit of mine offended
him extreamly. For when my Mother some time after spoke to him of a
Reconciliation, and of her Wishes to see us on good Terms together, and
that we might live for the future as Brothers, he said, I had insulted
him in such a Manner before his People that he could never forget or
forgive it. In this however he was mistaken.--
My Father received the Governor's Letter with some apparent Surprize;
but said little of it to me for some Days; when Capt. Holmes returning,
he show'd it to him, ask'd if he knew Keith, and what kind of a Man he
was: Adding his Opinion that he must be of small Discretion, to think of
setting a Boy up in Business who wanted yet 3 Years of being at Man's
Estate. Holmes said what he could in fav^r of the Project; but my Father
was clear in the Impropriety of it; and at last gave a flat Denial to
it. Then he wrote a civil Letter to Sir William thanking him for the
Patronage he had so kindly offered me, but declining to assist me as yet
in Setting up, I being in his Opinion too young to be trusted with the
Management of a Business so important, and for which the Preparation
must be so expensive.--
My Friend and Companion Collins, who was a Clerk at the Post-Office,
pleas'd with the Account I gave him of my new Country, determin'd to go
thither also: And while I waited for my Fathers Determination, he set
out before me by Land to Rhodeisland, leaving his Books which were a
pretty Collection of Mathematicks and Natural Philosophy, to come with
mine and me to New York where he propos'd to wait for me. My Father,
tho' he did not approve Sir William's Proposition was yet pleas'd that I
had been able to obtain so advantageous a Character from a Person of
such Note where I had resided, and that I had been so industrious and
careful as to equip myself so handsomely in so short a time: therefore
seeing no Prospect of an Accommodation between my Brother and me, he
gave his Consent to my Returning again to Philadelphia, advis'd me to
behave respectfully to the People there, endeavour to obtain the general
Esteem, and avoid lampooning and libelling to which he thought I had too
much Inclination; telling me, that by steady Industry and a prudent
Parsimony, I might save enough by the time I was One and Twenty to set
me up, and that if I came near the Matter he would help me out with the
rest. This was all I could obtain, except some small Gifts as Tokens of
his and my Mother's Love, when I embark'd again for New-York, now with
their Approbation and their Blessing.--
The Sloop putting in at Newport, Rhodeisland, I visited my Brother John,
who had been married and settled there some Years. He received me very
affectionately, for he always lov'd me. A Friend of his, one Vernon,
having some Money due to him in Pensilvania, about 35 Pounds Currency,
desired I would receive it for him, and keep it till I had his
Directions what to remit it in. Accordingly he gave me an Order.--This
afterwards occasion'd me a good deal of Uneasiness. At Newport we took
in a Number of Passengers for New York: Among which were two young
Women, Companions, and a grave, sensible Matron-like Quaker-Woman with
her Attendants.--I had shown an obliging readiness to do her some little
Services which impress'd her I suppose with a degree of Good-will
towards me.--Therefore when she saw a daily growing Familiarity between
me and the two Young Women, which they appear'd to encourage, she took
me aside and said, Young Man, I am concern'd for thee, as thou has no
Friend with thee, and seems not to know much of the World, or of the
Snares Youth is expos'd to; depend upon it those are very bad Women, I
can see it in all their Actions, and if thee art not upon thy Guard,
they will draw thee into some Danger: they are Strangers to thee, and I
advise thee in a friendly Concern for thy Welfare, to have no
Acquaintance with them. As I seem'd at first not to think so ill of them
as she did, she mention'd some Things she had observ'd and heard that
had escap'd my Notice; but now convinc'd me she was right. I thank'd her
for her kind Advice, and promis'd to follow it.--When we arriv'd at New
York, they told me where they liv'd, and invited me to come and see
them: but I avoided it. And it was well I did: For the next Day, the
Captain miss'd a Silver Spoon and some other Things that had been taken
out of his Cabbin, and knowing that these were a Couple of Strumpets, he
got a Warrant to search their Lodgings, found the stolen Goods, and had
the Thieves punish'd. So tho' we had escap'd a sunken Rock which we
scrap'd upon in the Passage, I thought this Escape of rather more
Importance to me. At New York I found my Friend Collins, who had arriv'd
there some Time before me. We had been intimate from Children, and had
read the same Books together: But he had the Advantage of more time for
reading, and Studying and a wonderful Genius for Mathematical Learning
in which he far outstript me. While I liv'd in Boston most of my Hours
of Leisure for Conversation were spent with him, and he continu'd a
sober as well as an industrious Lad; was much respected for his Learning
by several of the Clergy and other Gentlemen, and seem'd to promise
making a good Figure in Life: but during my Absence he had acquir'd a
Habit of Sotting with Brandy; and I found by his own Account and what I
heard from others, that he had been drunk every day since his Arrival
at New York, and behav'd very oddly. He had gam'd too and lost his
Money, so that I was oblig'd to discharge his Lodgings, and defray his
Expenses to and at Philadelphia: Which prov'd extreamly inconvenient to
me. The then Governor of N[ew] York, Burnet, Son of Bishop Burnet
hearing from the Captain that a young Man, one of his Passengers, had a
great many Books, desired he would bring me to see him. I waited upon
him accordingly, and should have taken Collins with me but that he was
not sober. The Gov^r treated me with great Civility, show'd me his
Library, which was a very large one, and we had a good deal of
Conversation about Books and Authors. This was the second Governor who
had done me the Honour to take Notice of me, which to a poor Boy like me
was very pleasing.--We proceeded to Philadelphia. I received on the Way
Vernon's Money, without which we could hardly have finish'd our Journey.
Collins wish'd to be employ'd in some Counting House; but whether they
discover'd his Dramming by his Breath, or by his Behaviour, tho' he had
some Recommendations, he met with no Success in any Application, and
continu'd Lodging and Boarding at the same House with me and at my
Expense. Knowing I had that Money of Vernon's he was continually
borrowing of me, still promising Repayment as soon as he should be in
Business. At length he had got so much of it, that I was distress'd to
think what I should do, in case of being call'd on to remit it. His
Drinking continu'd, about which we sometimes quarrel'd, for when a
little intoxicated he was very fractious. Once in a Boat on the Delaware
with some other young Men, he refused to row in his Turn: I will be
row'd home, says he. We will not row you, says I. You must or stay all
Night on the Water, says he, just as you please. The others said, Let us
row; what signifies it? But my Mind being soured with his other Conduct,
I continu'd to refuse. So he swore he would make me row, or throw me
overboard; and coming along stepping on the Thwarts towards me, when he
came up and struck at me I clapt my Hand under his Crutch, and rising
pitch'd him head-foremost into the River. I knew he was a good Swimmer,
and so was under little Concern about him; but before he could get
round to lay hold of the Boat, we had with a few Strokes pull'd her out
of his Reach. And ever when he drew near the Boat, we ask'd if he would
row, striking a few Strokes to slide her away from him.--He was ready to
die with Vexation, and obstinately would not promise to row; however
seeing him at last beginning to tire, we lifted him in; and brought him
home dripping wet in the Evening. We hardly exchang'd a civil Word
afterwards; and a West India Captain who had a Commission to procure a
Tutor for the Sons of a Gentleman at Barbadoes, happening to meet with
him, agreed to carry him thither. He left me then, promising to remit me
the first Money he should receive in order to discharge the Debt. But I
never heard of him after. The Breaking into this Money of Vernon's was
one of the first great Errata of my Life[.] And this Affair show'd that
my Father was not much out in his Judgment when he suppos'd me too Young
to manage Business of Importance. But Sir William, on reading his
Letter, said he was too prudent. There was great Difference in Persons,
and Discretion did not always accompany Years, nor was Youth always
without it. And since he will not set you up, says he, I will do it
myself. Give me an Inventory of the Things necessary to be had from
England, and I will send for them. You shall repay me when you are able;
I am resolv'd to have a good Printer here, and I am sure you must
succeed. This was spoken with such an Appearance of Cordiality, that I
had not the least doubt of his meaning what he said. I had hitherto kept
the Proposition of my Setting up[,] a Secret in Philadelphia, and I
still kept it. Had it been known that I depended on the Governor,
probably some Friend that knew him better would have advis'd me not to
rely 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 believ'd
him one of the best Men in the World.--
I presented him an Inventory of a little Print[8] House, amounting by my
Computation to about 100£ Sterling. He lik'd it, but ask'd me if my
being on the Spot in England to chuse the Types and see that every thing
was good of the kind, might not be of some Advantage. Then, says he,
when there, you may make Acquaintances and establish Correspondencies in
the Bookselling and Stationary Way. I agreed that this might be
advantageous. Then, says 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 it would be some Months before
Annis sail'd, so I continu'd working with Keimer, fretting about the
Money Collins had got from me; and in daily Apprehensions of being
call'd upon by Vernon, which however did not happen for some Years
after.--
I believe I have omitted mentioning that in my first Voyage from Boston,
being becalm'd off Block Island, our People set about catching Cod and
haul'd up a great many. Hitherto I had stuck to my Resolution of not
eating animal Food; and on this Occasion, I consider'd with my Master
Tryon, the taking every Fish as a kind of unprovoked Murder, since none
of them had or ever could do us any Injury that might justify the
Slaughter. All this seem'd very reasonable.--But I had formerly been a
great Lover of Fish, and when this came hot out of the Frying Pan, it
smelt admirably well. I balanc'd some time between Principle and
Inclination: till I recollected, that when the Fish were opened, I saw
smaller Fish taken out of their Stomachs: Then thought I, if you eat one
another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you. So I din'd upon Cod very
heartily and continu'd to eat with other People, returning only now and
then occasionally to a vegetable Diet. So convenient a thing it is to be
a _reasonable Creature_, since it enables one to find or make a Reason
for every thing one has a mind to do.
Keimer and I liv'd on a pretty good familiar Footing and agreed
tolerably well: for he suspected nothing of my Setting up. He retain'd a
great deal of his old Enthusiasms, and lov'd Argumentation. We therefore
had many Disputations. I used to work him so with my Socratic Method,
and had trepann'd him so often by Questions apparently so distant from
any Point we had in hand, and yet by degrees led to the Point, and
brought him into Difficulties and Contradictions that at last he grew
ridiculously cautious, and would hardly answer me the most common
Question, 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 propos'd 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 Essentials with him.
I dislik'd both, but agreed to admit them upon Condition of his adopting
the Doctrine of using no animal Food. I doubt, says he, my Constitution
will not bear that. I assur'd him it would, and that he would be the
better for it. He was usually a great Glutton, and I promis'd myself
some Diversion in half-starving him. He agreed to try the Practice if I
would keep him Company. I did so and we held it for three Months. We had
our Victuals dress'd and brought to us regularly by a Woman in the
Neighbourhood, who had from me a List of 40 Dishes to be prepar'd for us
at different times, in all which there was neither Fish Flesh nor Fowl,
and the whim suited me the better at this time from the Cheapness of it,
not costing us above 18^d 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 suffer'd grievously,
tir'd of the Project, long'd for the Flesh Pots of Egypt, and order'd a
roast Pig. He invited me and two Women Friends to dine with him, but it
being brought too soon upon the table, he could not resist the
Temptation, and ate it all up 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 Reason 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 18, 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 expected set up in my Business. Perhaps too she thought
my Expectations not so well founded as I imagined them to be.--