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 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 Criticising. Ralph, was ingenious, genteel
in his Manners, and extreamly eloquent; I think I never knew a prettier
Talker. Both of them great Admirers of Poetry, and began to try their
Hands in little Pieces. Many pleasant Walks we four had together on
Sundays into the Woods near Schuylkill, where we read to one another and
conferr'd on what we read. Ralph was inclin'd to pursue the Study of
Poetry, not doubting but he might become eminent in it and make his
Fortune by it, alledging that the best Poets must when they first began
to write, make as many Faults as he did.--Osborne dissuaded him, assur'd
him he had no Genius for Poetry, and advis'd him to think of nothing
beyond the Business he was bred to; that in the mercantile way tho' 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 approv'd the amusing one's self with Poetry
now and then, so far as to improve one's Language, but no farther. On
this it was propos'd 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, Criticisms 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 18^th Psalm, which
describes the Descent of a Deity. When the Time of our Meeting drew
nigh, Ralph call'd 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 show'd me his Piece for my Opinion; and I much approv'd
it, as it appear'd to me to have great Merit. Now, says he, Osborne
never will allow the least Merit in any thing of mine, but makes 1000
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 see
what he will say to it. It was agreed, and I immediately transcrib'd 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, remark'd some Faults,
but applauded the Beauties. He himself had nothing to produce. I was
backward, seem'd desirous of being excused, had not had sufficient Time
to correct, etc. but no Excuse could be admitted, produce I must. It was
read and repeated; Watson and Osborne gave up the Contest; and join'd in
applauding it immoderately. Ralph only made some Criticisms and propos'd
some Amendments, but I defended my Text. Osborne was against Ralph, and
told him he was no better a Critic than Poet; so he dropt the Argument.
As they two went home together, Osborne express'd himself still more
strongly in favour of what he thought my Production, having restrain'd
himself before as he said, lest I should think it Flattery. But who
would have imagin'd, says he, that Franklin had been capable of such a
Performance; such Painting, such Force! such Fire! he has even improv'd
the Original! In his 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 discover'd the Trick we had plaid him,
and Osborne was a little laught at. This Transaction fix'd 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_ cur'd him. He became
however a pretty good Prose Writer. More of him hereafter. But as I may
not have occasion again 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 happen'd 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 fulfill'd his Promise.
The Governor, seeming to like my Company, had me frequently to his
House; and his Setting me up was always mention'd as a fix'd 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 and Types, Paper, etc. 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 call'd to take my Leave and receive the Letters,
his Secretary, Dr. Bard, came out to me and said the Governor was
extreamly busy, in writing, but would be down at Newcastle before the
Ship, and there the Letters would be delivered to me.
Ralph, tho' 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
afterwards, that thro' some Discontent with his Wife's Relations, he
purposed to leave her on their Hands, and never return again.--Having
taken leave of my Friends, and interchang'd some Promises with Miss
Read, I left Philadelphia in the Ship, which anchor'd at Newcastle. The
Governor was there. But when I went to his Lodging, the Secretary came
to me from him with the civillest Message in the World, that he could
not then see me being engag'd in Business of the utmost Importance, but
should send the Letters to me on board, wish'd me heartily a good Voyage
and a speedy Return, etc. I return'd on board, a little puzzled, but
still not doubting.--
Mr. Andrew Hamilton, a famous Lawyer of Philadelphia, had taken Passage
in the same Ship for himself and Son: and with Mr. Denham a Quaker
Merchant, and Messrs. Onion and Russell[,] Masters of an Iron Work in
Maryland, had engag'd the Great Cabin; so that Ralph and I were forc'd
to take up 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) return'd from New Castle to Philadelphia, the
Father being recall'd by a great Fee to plead for a seized Ship.--And
just before we sail'd Col. French coming on board, and showing 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 remov'd thither.
Understanding that Col. French had brought on board the Governor's
Dispatches, I ask'd 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 satisfy'd 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 none upon which my Name was put, as under my Care; I pick'd out
6 or 7 that by the Hand writing I thought might be the promis'd Letters,
especially as one of them was directed to Basket the King's printer, and
another to some Stationer. We arriv'd in London the 24^th of December,
1724.--I waited upon the Stationer who came first in my Way, delivering
the Letter as from Gov. Keith. I don't know such a Person, says he: but
opening the Letter, O, this is from Riddlesden; I have lately found him
to be a compleat Rascal, and I will have nothing to do with him, nor
receive any Letters from him. So putting the Letter into my Hand, he
turn'd on his Heel and left me to serve some Customer. I was surprized
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 Character, told me there was not the least Probability that he
had written any Letters for me, that no one who knew him had the
smallest Dependence on him, and he laught at the Notion 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 advis'd
me to endeavour getting some Employment in the Way of my Business. Among
the Printers here, says he, you will improve yourself; and when you
return to America, you will set up to greater Advantage.--
We both of us happen'd to know, as well as the Stationer, that
Riddlesden the Attorney, was a very Knave. He had half ruin'd Miss
Read's Father by acquiring his note he bound for him. By his Letter it
appear'd, there was a secret Scheme on foot to the Prejudice of
Hamilton, (suppos'd to be then coming over with us,) and that Keith was
concern'd in it with Riddlesden. Denham, who was a Friend of Hamilton's,
thought he ought to be acquainted with it. So when he arriv'd 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 thank'd 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.
But what shall we think of a Governor's playing such pitiful Tricks, and
imposing so grossly on a poor ignorant Boy! It was a Habit he had
acquired. He wish'd 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, tho' not for his
Constituents the Proprietaries, whose Instructions he sometimes
disregarded.--Several of our best Laws were of his Planning, and pass'd
during his Administration.--
Ralph and I were inseparable Companions. We took Lodgings together in
Little Britain at 3/6 p[er] 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 Philad^a--He had brought no Money with him, the whole
he could muster having been expended in paying his Passage. I had 15
Pistoles: So he borrowed occasionally of me, to subsist while he was
looking out for Business.--He first endeavoured to get into the
Playhouse, believing himself qualify'd for an Actor; but Wilkes to whom
he apply'd, advis'd him candidly not to think of that Employment, as it
was impossible he should succeed in it.--Then he propos'd to Roberts, a
Publisher in Paternoster Row, to write for him a Weekly Paper like the
Spectator, on certain Conditions, which Roberts did not approve. Then he
endeavour'd to get Employm^t as a Hackney Writer to copy for the
Stationers and Lawyers about the Temple: but could find no Vacancy.--
I immediately got into Work at Palmer's then a famous Printing House in
Bartholomew Close; and here I continu'd near a Year. I was pretty
diligent; but spent with Ralph a good deal of my Earnings in going to
Plays and other Places of Amusement. We had together consum'd all my
Pistoles, and now just rubb'd on from hand to mouth. He seem'd quite to
forget his Wife and Child, and I by degrees my Engagements w^th 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 should wish to correct if I were to live it
over again.--In fact, by our Expences, I was constantly kept unable to
pay my Passage.
At Palmer's I was employ'd in composing for the second Edition of
Woollaston's [_sic_] 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 entitled, _A Dissertation on
Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and pain_. I inscrib'd it to my Friend
Ralph.--I printed a small Number. It occasion'd my being more consider'd
by Mr. Palmer, as a young Man of some Ingenuity, tho' he seriously
Expostulated with me upon the Principles of my Pamphlet which to him
appear'd abominable. My printing this Pamphlet was another Erratum.
In our House there lodg'd a young Woman; a Millener, who I think had a
Shop in the Cloisters. She had been genteelly bred, was sensible and
lively, and of most pleasing Conversation. Ralph read Plays to her in
the Evenings, they grew intimate, she took another Lodging, and he
follow'd her. They liv'd 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 bethought himself well qualify'd to undertake, as he wrote an
excellent Hand, and was a Master of Arithmetic and Accounts.--This
however he deem'd 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 employ'd, he chang'd his Name, and did me the Honour to assume
mine.--For I soon after had a Letter from him, acquainting me, that he
was settled in a small Village in Berkshire, I think it was, where he
taught reading and writing to 10 or a dozen Boys at 6 pence each p[er]
Week, recommending Mrs. T. to my Care, and desiring me to write to him
directing for Mr. Franklin Schoolmaster at such a Place. He continu'd to
write 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 endeavour'd rather to discourage his
Proceeding. One of Young's Satires was then just publish'd. I copy'd and
sent him a great Part of it, which set in a strong Light the Folly of
pursuing the Muses with any Hope of Advancement by them. All was in
vain. Sheets of the Poem continu'd 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 us'd to send for me, and borrow what I could
spare to help her out of them. I grew fond of her Company, and being at
this time under no Religious Restraints, and presuming on my Importance
to her, I attempted Familiarities, (another Erratum) which she repuls'd
with a proper Resentment, and acquainted him with my Behaviour. This
made a Breach between us, and when he return'd again to London, he let
me know he thought I had cancell'd all the Obligations he had been under
to me.--So I found I was never to expect his Repaying me what I lent to
him or advanc'd for him. This was however not then of much Consequence,
as he was totally unable: And in the Loss of his Friendship I found
myself reliev'd from a Burthen. I now began to think of getting a little
Money beforehand; and expecting better Work, I left Palmer's to work at
Watts's near Lincoln's Inn Fields, a still greater Printing House. Here
I continu'd all the rest of my Stay in London.
While I lodg'd in Little Britain I made an Acquaintance with one Wilcox
a Bookseller, whose Shop was at the 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
esteem'd 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, call'd on me often, to converse on those Subjects, carried
me to the Horns a pale Alehouse in ----Lane, Cheapside, and introduc'd
me to Dr. Mandevil[l]e, 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 Dr. Pemberton, at Batson's Coffee
House, who promis'd to give me an Opportunity some time or other of
seeing Sir Isaac Newton, of which I was extreamly desirous; but this
never happened.
I had brought over a few Curiosities 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; where he show'd me all his Curiosities, and persuaded me to let
him add that to the Number, for which he paid me handsomely.[4]--
At my first Admission into this Printing House, I took to working at
Press, imagining I felt a Want of the Bodily Exercise I had been us'd to
in America, where Presswork is mix'd with Composing, I drank only Water,
the other Workmen, near 50 in Number, were great Guzzlers 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 wonder'd to see
from this and several Instances that the water-American as they call'd
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'd, to drink _strong_ Beer that
he might be _strong_ to labour. I endeavour'd to convince him that the
Bodily Strength afforded by Beer could only be in proportion to the
Grain or Flour of the Barley dissolved in the Water of which it was
made; that there was more Flour in a Penny-worth of Bread, and therefore
if he would eat that with a Pint of Water, it would give him more
Strength than a Quart of Beer.--He drank on however, and had 4 or 5
Shillings to pay out of his Wages every Saturday Night for that muddling
Liquor; an Expence 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 _Bienvenu_ or Sum for Drink; being 5/, was demanded
of me by the Compositors. I thought it an Imposition, as I had paid
below. The Master thought so too, and forbad[e] my Paying it. I stood
out two or three Weeks, was accordingly considered as an Excommunicate,
and had so many little Pieces of private Mischief done me, by mixing my
Sorts, transposing my Pages, breaking my Matter, etc. etc. and if I were
ever so little out of the Room, and all ascrib'd to the Chapel Ghost,
which they said ever haunted those not regularly admitted, that
notwithstanding the Master's Protection, I found myself oblig'd to
comply and pay the Money; convinc'd 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 acquir'd considerable Influence. I propos'd some
reasonable Alterations in their Chapel[C] Laws, and carried them against
all Opposition. From my Example a great Part of them, left their
muddling Breakfast of Beer and Bread and Cheese, finding they could with
me be supply'd from a neighbouring House with a large Porringer of hot
Water-gruel, sprinkled with Pepper, crumb'd 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 cheaper Breakfast, and kept their
Heads clearer.--Those who continu'd sotting with Beer all day, were
often, by not paying, out of Credit at the Alehouse, and us'd to make
Interest with me to get Beer, _their Light_, as they phras'd it, _being
out_. I watch'd the Pay table on Saturday Night, and collected what I
stood engag'd for them, having to pay some times near Thirty Shillings a
Week on their Accounts.--This, and my being esteem'd a pretty good
Riggite, 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 Composing,
occasion'd my being put upon all Work of Dispatch which was generally
better paid. So I went on now very agreably.--
[C] A Printing House is always called a Chappel [_sic_], by the
Workmen. [_Franklin's note._]
My Lodging in Little Britain being too remote, I found another in
Duke-street opposite to the Romish Chapel. It was two pair of Stairs
backwards at an Italian Warehouse. A Widow Lady kept the House; she had
a Daughter and a Maid Servant, and a Journey-man who attended the
Warehouse, but lodg'd abroad. After sending to enquire my Character at
the House where I last lodg'd, she agreed to take me in at the same Rate
3/6 p[er] Week, cheaper as she said from the Protection she expected in
having a Man 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 1000
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 stirr'd out of
her Room, so sometimes wanted Company; and hers was so highly amusing
[Franklin first wrote "agreable"; both it and "amusing" are deleted in
the MS.] 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 Strip 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 talk'd of a Lodging I had heard of, nearer my
Business, for 2/ a Week, which, intent as I now was on saving Money,
made some Difference; she bid me not think of it, for she would abate me
two Shillings a Week for the future, so I remain'd with her at 1/6 as
long as I staid in London.--
In a Garret of her House there lived a Maiden Lady of 70 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 lodg'd in a Nunnery
with an Intent of becoming a Nun: but the Country not agreeing with her,
she return'd to England, where there being no Nunnery, she had vow'd 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 Uses, reserving
only Twelve Pounds a Year to live on, and out of this Sum she still gave
a great deal in Charity, living herself on Watergruel 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 deem'd it a Blessing to have her there. A Priest
visited her, to confess her every Day. I have ask'd her, says my
Landlady, how she, as she liv'd, could possibly find so much Employment
for a Confessor? O, says she, it is impossible to avoid _vain Thoughts_.
I was permitted once to visit her: She was chearful and polite, and
convers'd pleasantly. The Room was clean, but had no other Furniture
than a Matras, a Table with a Crucifix and Book, a Stool, which she gave
me to sit on, and a Picture over the Chimney of St. _Veronica_,
displaying her Handkerchief with the miraculous Figure of Christ's
bleeding Face on it, which she explain'd to me with great Seriousness.
She look'd pale, but was never sick, and I give it as another Instance
on how small an Income Life and Health may be supported.
At Watts's Printinghouse I contracted an Acquaintance with an ingenious
young Man, one Wygate, who having wealthy Relations, had been better
educated than most Printers, was a tolerable Latinist, spoke French, and
lov'd Reading. I taught him and a Friend of his, to swim, at twice going
into the River, and they soon became good Swimmers. They introduc'd me
to some Gentlemen from the Country who went to Chelsea by Water to see
the College and Don Saltero's Curiosities.[5] In our Return, at the
Request of the Company, whose Curiosity Wygate had excited, I stript and
leapt into the River, and swam from near Chelsea to Blackfryars,
performing on the Way many Feats of Activity both upon and under Water,
that surpriz'd and pleas'd those to whom they were Novelties.--I had
from a Child been ever delighted with this Exercise, had studied and
practis'd all Thevenot's Motions and Positions, added some of my own,
aiming at the graceful and easy, as well as the Useful. All these I took
this Occasion of exhibiting to the Company, and was much flatter'd by
their Admiration.--And Wygate, who was desirous of becoming a Master,
grew more and more attach'd to me, on that account, as well as from the
Similarity of our Studies. He at length propos'd to me travelling all
over Europe together, supporting ourselves everywhere by working at our
Business. I was once inclin'd to it. But mentioning it to my good Friend
Mr. Denham, with whom I often spent an Hour, when I had Leisure. He
dissuaded me from it, advising me to think only of returning to
Pensilvania, which he was now about to do.
I must record one Trait of this good Man's Character. He had formerly
been in Business at Bristol, but fail'd in Debt to a Number of People,
compounded and went to America. There, by a close Application to
Business as a Merchant, he acquir'd a plentiful Fortune in a few Years.
Returning to England in the Ship with me, He invited his old Creditors
to an Entertainment, at which he thank'd them for the easy Composition
they had favour'd him with, and when they expected nothing but the
Treat, every Man at the first Remove, found under his Plate an Order on
a Banker for the full Amount of the unpaid Remainder with Interest.