over a great Quantity of Goods in order to open a Store there: He
propos'd to take me over as his Clerk, to keep his Books (in which he
would instruct me) copy his Letters, and attend the Store. He added,
that as soon as I should be acquainted with mercantile Business he would
promote me by sending me with a Cargo of Flour and Bread etc to the West
Indies, and procure me Commissions from others; which would be
profitable, and if I manag'd well, would establish me handsomely. The
Thing pleas'd me, for I was grown tired of London, remember'd with
Pleasure the happy Months I had spent in Pennsylvania, and wish'd again
to see it. Therefore I immediately agreed, on the Terms of Fifty Pounds
a Year, Pensylvania Money less indeed than my then present Gettings as a
Compositor, but affording a better Prospect.--
I now took leave of Printing; as I thought for ever, and was daily
employ'd in my new Business; going about with Mr. Denham among the
Tradesmen, to purchase various Articles, and seeing them pack'd up,
doing Errands, calling upon Workmen to dispatch, etc. and when all was
on board, I had a few Days Leisure. On one of these Days I was to my
Surprise sent for by a great Man I knew only by Name, a Sir William
Wyndham and I waited upon him. He had heard by some means or other of my
Swimming from Chelsey to Blackfryars, and of my teaching Wygate and
another young Man to swim in a few Hours. He had two Sons about to set
out on their Travels; he wish'd to have them first taught Swimming; and
propos'd to gratify me handsomely if I would teach them.--They were not
yet come to Town and my Stay was uncertain, so I could not undertake it.
But from this Incident I thought it likely, that if I were to remain in
England and open a Swimming School, I might get a good deal of Money.
And it struck me so strongly, that had the Overture been sooner made me,
probably I should not so soon have returned to America.--After many
Years, you and I had something of more Importance to do with one of
these Sons of Sir William Wyndham, become Earl of Egremont, which I
shall mention in its Place.--[This promise Franklin did not fulfill.]
Thus I spent about 18 Months in London. Most Part of the Time, I work'd
hard at my Business, and spent but little upon myself except in seeing
Plays, and in Books.--My Friend Ralph had kept me poor. He owed me about
27 Pounds; which I was now never likely to receive; a great Sum out of
my small Earnings. I lov'd him notwithstanding, for he had many amiable
Qualities.--Tho' I had by no means improv'd my Fortune. But I had pick'd
up some very ingenious Acquaintance whose Conversation was of great
Advantage to me, and I had read considerably.
We sail'd from Gravesend on the 23^d of July 1726. For the Incidents of
the Voyage, I refer you to my Journal, where you will find them all
minutely related. Perhaps the most important Part of that Journal is the
_Plan_ [This Plan is not found in the _Journal_ printed in _Writings_,
II, 53-86.] to be found in it which I formed at Sea, for regulating my
future Conduct in Life. It is the more remarkable, as being formed when
I was so young, and yet being pretty faithfully adhered to quite thro'
to old Age.--We landed in Philadelphia on the 11th of October, where I
found sundry Alterations. Keith was no longer Governor, being superceded
by Major Gordon: I met him walking the Streets as a common Citizen. He
seem'd a little asham'd at seeing me, but pass'd without saying any
thing. I should have been as much asham'd at seeing Miss Read, had not
her Fr^ds, despairing with Reason of my Return, after the Receipt of my
Letter, persuaded her to marry another, one Rogers, a Potter, which was
done in my Absence. With him however she was never happy, and soon
parted from him, refusing to cohabit with him, or bear his Name[,] it
being now said that he had another Wife. He was a worthless Fellow tho'
an excellent Workman[,] which was the Temptation to her Friends. He got
into Debt, ran away in 1727 or 28. and went to the West Indies, and died
there. Keimer had got a better House, a Shop well supply'd with
Stationary[,] plenty of new Types, a number of Hands tho' none good, and
seem'd to have a great deal of Business.
Mr. Denham took a Store in Water Street, where we open'd our Goods. I
attended the Business diligently, studied Accounts, and grew in a little
Time expert at selling. We lodg'd and boarded together, he counsell'd me
as a Father, having a sincere Regard for me: I respected and lov'd him:
and we might have gone on together very happily: But in the Beginning of
Feb^y 172-6/7 when I had just pass'd my 21^st Year, we both were taken
ill. My Distemper was a Pleurisy, which very nearly carried me off:--I
suffered a good deal, gave up the Point in my own mind, and was rather
disappointed when I found my Self recovering; regretting in some degree
that I must now some time or other have all that disagreeable Work to do
over again.--I forget what his Distemper was. It held him a long time,
and at length carried him off. He left me a small Legacy in a
nuncupative Will, as a Token of his Kindness for me, and he left me once
more to the wide World. For the Store was taken into the Care of his
Executors, and my Employment under him ended:--My Brother-in-law Holmes,
being now at Philadelphia, advised my Return to my Business. And Keimer
tempted me with an Offer of large Wages by the Year to come and take the
Management of his Printing-House, that he might better attend his
Stationer's Shop.--I had heard a bad Character of him in London, from
his Wife and her Friends, and was not fond of having any more to do with
him. I try'd for farther Employment as a Merchant's Clerk; but not
readily meeting with any, I clos'd again with Keimer.--
I found in _his_ House these Hands; Hugh Meredith a Welsh-Pensilvanian,
30 Years of Age, bred to Country Work: honest, sensible, had a great
deal of solid Observation, was something of a Reader, but given to
drink: Stephen Potts, a young Country Man of full Age, bred to the
Same:--of uncommon natural Parts, and great Wit and Humour, but a little
idle. These he had agreed with at extream low Wages, p[er] Week, to be
rais'd a Shilling every 3 Months, as they would deserve by improving in
their Business, and the Expectation of these high Wages to come on
hereafter was what he had drawn them in with. Meredith was to work at
Press, Potts at Bookbinding, which he by Agreement, was to teach them,
tho' he knew neither one nor t'other. John ---- a wild Irishman brought
up to no Business, whose Service for 4 Years Keimer had purchas'd from
the Captain of a Ship. He too was to be made a Pressman. George Webb, an
Oxford Scholar, whose Time for 4 Years he had likewise bought, intending
him for a Compositor: of whom more presently. And David Harry, a Country
Boy, whom he had taken Apprentice. I soon perceiv'd that the Intention
of engaging me at Wages so much higher than he had been us'd to give,
was to have these raw cheap Hands form'd thro' me, and as soon as I had
instructed them, then, they being all articled to him, he should be able
to do without me.--I went on however, very chearfully; put his Printing
House in Order, which had been in great Confusion, and brought his Hands
by degrees to mind their Business and to do it better.
It was an odd Thing to find an Oxford Scholar in the Situation of a
bought Servant. He was not more than 18 Years of Age, and gave me this
Account of himself; that he was born in Gloucester, educated at a
Grammar School there, had been distinguish'd among the Scholars for some
apparent Superiority in performing his Part when they exhibited Plays;
belong'd to the Witty Club there, and had written some Pieces in Prose
and Verse which were printed in the Gloucester Newspapers.--Thence he
was sent to Oxford; where he continu'd about a Year, but not
well-satisfy'd, wishing of all things to see London and become a Player.
At length receiving his Quarterly Allowance of 15 Guineas, instead of
discharging his Debts, he walk'd out of Town, hid his Gown in a Furz
Bush, and footed it to London, where having no Friend to advise him, he
fell into bad Company, soon spent his Guineas, found no means of being
introduc'd among the Players, grew necessitous, pawn'd his Cloaths and
wanted Bread. Walking the Street very hungry, and not knowing what to do
with himself, a Crimp's Bill was put into his Hand, offering immediate
Entertainment and Encouragement to such as would bind themselves to
serve in America. He went directly, sign'd the Indentures, was put into
the Ship and came over; never writing a Line to acquaint his Friends
what was become of him. He was lively, witty, good-natur'd, and a
pleasant Companion, but idle, thoughtless and imprudent to the last
Degree.
John the Irishman soon ran away. With the rest I began to live very
agreably; for they all respected me, the more as they found Keimer
incapable of instructing them, and that from me they learnt something
daily. We never work'd on a Saturday, that being Keimer's Sabbath. So I
had two Days for Reading.--My Acquaintance with ingenious People in the
Town, increased. Keimer himself treated me with great Civility, and
apparent Regard; and nothing now made me uneasy but my Debt to Vernon,
which I was yet unable to pay being hitherto but a poor Oeconomist. He
however kindly made no Demand of it.
Our Printing-House often wanted Sorts, and there was no Letter Founder
in America. I had seen Types cast at James's in London, but without much
Attention to the Manner: However I now contriv'd a Mould, made use of
the Letters we had, as Puncheons, struck the Matrices in Lead, and thus
supply'd in a pretty tolerable way all Deficiencies. I also engrav'd
several Things on occasion. I made the Ink, I was Warehouse-man and
every thing, in short quite a Factotum.--
But however serviceable I might be, I found that my Services became
every Day of less Importance, as the other Hands improv'd in the
Business. And when Keimer paid my second Quarter's Wages, he let me know
that he felt them too heavy, and thought I should make an Abatement. He
grew by degrees less civil, put on more of the Master, frequently found
Fault, was captious and seem'd ready for an Out-breaking. I went on
nevertheless with a good deal of Patience, thinking that his incumber'd
Circumstances were partly the Cause. At length a Trifle snapt our
Connexion. For a great Noise happening near the Courthouse, I put my
Head out of the Window to see what was the Matter. Keimer being in the
Street look'd up and saw me, call'd out to me in a loud voice and angry
Tone to mind my Business, adding some reproachful Words, that nettled me
the more for their Publicity, all the Neighbours who were looking out on
the same Occasion being Witnesses how I was treated. He came up
immediately into the Printing-House, continu'd the Quarrel, high Words
pass'd on both Sides, he gave me the Quarter's Warning we had
stipulated, expressing a Wish that he had not been oblig'd to so long a
Warning: I told him his Wish was unnecessary for I would leave him that
Instant; and so taking my Hat walk'd out of Doors; desiring Meredith
whom I saw below to take care of some Things I left, and bring them to
my Lodging.--
Meredith came accordingly in the Evening, when we talk'd my Affair over.
He had conceiv'd a great Regard for me, and was very unwilling that I
should leave the House while he remain'd in it. He dissuaded me from
returning to my native Country which I began to think of. He reminded me
that Keimer was in debt for all he possess'd, that his Creditors began
to be uneasy, that he kept his Shop miserably, sold often without Profit
for ready Money, and often trusted without keeping Accounts. That he
must therefore fail; which would make a Vacancy I might profit of.--I
objected my Want of Money. He then let me know, that his Father had a
high Opinion of me, and from some Discourse that had pass'd between
them, he was sure would advance Money to set us up, if I would enter
into Partner Ship with him. My Time, says he, will be out with Keimer in
the Spring. By that time we may have our Press and Types in from London:
I am sensible I am no Workman. If you like it, Your Skill in the
Business shall be set against the Stock I furnish; and we will share the
Profits equally.--The Proposal was agreable, and I consented. His Father
was in Town, and approv'd of it, the more as he saw I had great
Influence with his Son, had prevail'd on him to abstain long from
Dramdrinking, and he hop'd might break him of that wretched Habit
entirely, when we came to be so closely connected. I gave an Inventory
to the Father, who carry'd it to a Merchant; the Things were sent for;
the Secret was to be kept till they should arrive, and in the mean time
I was to get work if I could at the other Printing House. But I found no
Vacancy there, and so remain'd idle a few Days, when Keimer, on a
Prospect of being employ'd to print some Paper-Money, in New Jersey,
which would require Cuts and various Types that I only could supply, and
apprehending Bradford might engage me and get the Jobb from him, sent me
a very civil Message, that old Friends should not part for a few Words
the Effect of sudden Passion, and wishing me to return. Meredith
persuaded me to comply, as it would give more Opportunity for his
Improvement under my daily Instructions.--So I return'd, and we went on
more smoothly than for some time before. The New Jersey Jobb was
obtained. I contriv'd a Copper-Plate Press for it, the first that had
been seen in the Country. I cut several Ornaments and Checks for the
Bills. We went together to Burlington, where I executed the Whole to
Satisfaction, and he received so large a Sum for the Work, as to be
enabled thereby to keep his Head much longer above Water.
At Burlington I made an Acquaintance with many principal People of the
Province. Several of them had been appointed by the Assembly a Committee
to attend the Press, and take Care that no more Bills were printed than
the Law directed. They were therefore by Turns constantly with us, and
generally he who attended brought with him a Friend or two for Company.
My Mind having been much more improv'd by Reading than Keimer's, I
suppose it was for that Reason my Conversation seem'd to be more valu'd.
They had me to their Houses, introduc'd me to their Friends and show'd
me much Civility, while he, tho' the Master, was a little neglected. In
truth he was an odd Fish, ignorant of common Life, fond of rudely
opposing receiv'd Opinions, slovenly to extream dirtiness, enthusiastic
in some Points of Religion, and a little Knavish withal. We continu'd
there near 3 Months, and by that time I could reckon among my acquired
Friends, Judge Allen, Samuel Bustill, the Secretary of the Province,
Isaac Pearson, Joseph Cooper and several of the Smiths, Members of
Assembly, and Isaac Decow the Surveyor General. The latter was a shrewd
sagacious old Man, who told me that he began for himself when young by
wheeling Clay for the Brickmakers, learnt to write after he was of Age,
carry'd the Chain for Surveyors, who taught him Surveying, and he had
now by his Industry acquir'd a good Estate; and says he, I foresee, that
you will soon work this Man out of his Business and make a Fortune in it
at Philadelphia. He had not then the least Intimation of my Intention to
set up there or any where. These Friends were afterwards of great use to
me, as I occasionally was to some of them. They all continued their
Regard for me as long as they lived.--
Before I enter upon my public Appearance in Business it may be well to
let you know the then State of my Mind, with regard to my Principles and
Morals, that you may see how far those influenc'd the future Events of
my Life. My Parent's [_sic_] had early given me religious Impressions,
and brought me through my Childhood piously in the Dissenting Way. But I
was scarce 15 when, after doubting by turns of several Points as I found
them disputed in the different Books I read, I began to doubt of
Revelation it self. Some Books against Deism fell into my Hands; they
were said to be the Substance of Sermons preached at Boyle's Lectures.
It happened that they wrought an Effect on me quite contrary to what was
intended by them: For the Arguments of the Deists which were quoted to
be refuted, appeared to me much Stronger than the Refutations. In short
I soon became a thorough Deist. My Arguments perverted some others,
particularly Collins and Ralph: but each of them having afterwards
wrong'd me greatly without the least Compunction and recollecting
Keith's Conduct towards me, (who was another Freethinker) and my own
towards Vernon and Miss Read, which at Times gave me great Trouble, I
began to suspect that this Doctrine tho' it might be true, was not very
useful.--My London Pamphlet, which had for its Motto these Lines of
Dryden
_Whatever is, is right. Tho' purblind Man
Sees but a Part of the Chain, the nearest Link,
His Eyes not carrying to the equal Beam,
That poises all, above._
And from the Attributes of God, his infinite Wisdom, Goodness and Power
concluded that nothing could possibly be wrong in the World, and that
Vice and Virtue were empty Distinctions, no such Things existing:
appear'd now not so clever a Performance as I once thought it; and I
doubted whether some Error had not insinuated itself unperceiv'd, into
my Argument, so as to infect all that follow'd, as is common in
metaphysical Reasonings.--I grew convinc'd that _Truth_, _Sincerity_ and
_Integrity_ in Dealings between Man and Man, were of the utmost
Importance to the Felicity of Life, and I form'd written Resolutions,
(w^ch still remain in my Journal Book) to practice them everwhile I
lived. Revelation had indeed no weight with me as such; but I
entertain'd an Opinion, that tho' certain Actions might not be bad
_because_ they were forbidden by it, or good _because_ it commanded
them; yet probably those Actions might be forbidden _because_ they were
bad for us, or commanded _because_ they were beneficial to us, in their
own Natures, all the Circumstances of things considered. And this
Persuasion, with the kind hand of Providence, or some guardian Angel, or
accidental favourable Circumstances and Situations, or all together,
preserved me (thro' this dangerous Time of Youth and the hazardous
Situations I was sometimes in among Strangers, remote from the Eye and
Advice of my Father) without any _wilful_ gross Immorality or Injustice
that might have been expected from my Want of Religion. I say _wilful_,
because the Instances I have mentioned, had something of _Necessity_ in
them, from my Youth, Inexperience, and the Knavery of others. I had
therefore a tolerable Character to begin the World with, I valued it
properly, and determin'd to preserve it.--
We had not been long return'd to Philadelphia, before the New Types
arriv'd from London. We settled with Keimer, and left him by his Consent
before he heard of it.--We found a House to hire near the Market, and
took it. To lessen the Rent, (which was then but 24£ a Year tho' I have
since known it let for 70) We took in Tho' Godfrey a Glazier and his
Family, who were to pay a considerable Part of it to us, and we to board
with them. We had scarce opened our Letters and put our Press in Order,
before George House, an Acquaintance of mine, brought a Countryman to
us, whom he had met in the Street enquiring for a Printer. All our Cash
was now expended in the Variety of Particulars we had been obliged to
procure and this Countryman's Five Shillings being our first Fruits, and
coming so seasonably, gave me more Pleasure than any Crown I have since
earned; and from the Gratitude I felt towards House, has made me often
more ready, than perhaps I should otherwise have been to assist young
Beginners.
There are Croakers in every Country always boding its Ruin. Such a one
then lived in Philadelphia, a Person of Note, an elderly Man, with a
wise Look, and very grave Manner of speaking. His Name was Samuel
Mickle. This Gentleman, a Stranger to me, stopt one Day at my Door, and
asked me if I was the young Man who had lately opened a new Printing
House: Being answered in the Affirmative, he said he was sorry for me,
because it was an expensive Undertaking and the Expence would be lost;
for Philadelphia was a sinking Place, the People already half Bankrupts
or near being so; all Appearances to the contrary, such as hew Buildings
and the Rise of Rents being to his certain Knowledge fallacious; for
they were in fact among the Things that would soon ruin us.--And he gave
me such a Detail of Misfortunes, now existing or that were soon to
exist, that he left me half melancholy. Had I known him before I engaged
in this Business, probably I never should have done it.--This Man
continued to live in this decaying Place; and to declaim in the same
Strain, refusing for many Years to buy a House there, because all was
going to Destruction, and at last I had the Pleasure of seeing him give
five times as much for one as he might have bought it for, when he first
began his Croaking.