Year I had formed most of my ingenious Acquaintance into a Club of
mutual Improvement, which we called the Junto. We met on Friday
Evenings. The Rules I drew up required that every Member in his Turn
should produce one or more Queries on any Point of Morals, Politics or
Natural Philosophy, to be discussed by the Company, and once in three
Months produce and read an Essay of his own Writing on any Subject he
pleased. Our Debates were to be under the Direction of a President and
to be conducted in the sincere Spirit of Enquiry after Truth, without
Fondness for Dispute, or Desire of Victory; and to prevent Warmth all
Expressions of Positiveness in Opinions or direct Contradiction, were
after some time made contraband and prohibited under small pecuniary
Penalties.--The first Members were Joseph Breintnal,[6] a Copyer of
Deeds for the Scriveners; a good-natur'd friendly middle-ag'd Man, a
great Lover of Poetry, reading all he could meet with, and writing some
that was tolerable; very ingenious in many little Nicknackeries, and of
sensible Conversation. Thomas Godfrey,[7] a self-taught Mathematician,
great in his Way, and afterwards Inventor of what is now call'd Hadley's
Quadrant. But he knew little out of his way, and was not a pleasing
Companion, as like most Great Mathematicians I have met with, he
expected universal Precision in every thing said, or was forever denying
or distinguishing upon Trifles, to the Disturbance of all Conversation.
He soon left us. Nicholas Scull, a Surveyor, afterwards
Surveyor-General, who lov'd Books, and sometimes made a few Verses.
William Parsons,[8] bred a Shoemaker, but loving Reading, had acquir'd a
considerable Share of Mathematics, which he first studied with a View to
Astrology that he afterwards laught at. He also became Surveyor General.
William Maugridge, a Joiner, a most exquisite Mechanic and a solid
sensible Man. Hugh Meredith, Stephen Potts, and George Webb, I have
Characteris'd before. Robert Grace, a young Gentleman of some Fortune,
generous, lively and witty, a Lover of Punning and of his Friends. And
William Coleman, then a Merchant's Clerk, about my Age, who had the
coolest clearest Head, the best Heart, and the exactest Morals, of
almost any Man I ever met with. He became afterwards a Merchant of great
Note, and one of our Provincial Judges. Our Friendship continued without
Interruption to his death upwards of 40 Years. And the club continu'd
almost as long[,] and was the best School of Philosophy, and Politics
that then existed in the Province; for our Queries which were read the
Week preceding their Discussion, put us on reading with Attention upon
the several Subjects, that we might speak more to the purpose: and here
too we acquired better Habits of Conversation, every thing being studied
in our Rules which might prevent our disgusting each other. From hence
the long Continuance of the Club, which I shall have frequent Occasion
to speak farther of hereafter; But my giving this Account of it here, is
to show something of the Interest I had, every one of these exerting
themselves in recommending Business to us.--Brientnal particularly
procur'd us from the Quakers, the Printing 40 Sheets of their History
[William Sewel's], the rest being to be done by Keimer: and upon this we
work'd exceeding hard, for the Price was low. It was a Folio, Pro Patria
Size, in Pica with Long Primer Notes. I compos'd of it a Sheet a Day,
and Meredith work'd it off at Press. It was often 11 at Night and
sometimes later, before I had finish'd my Distribution for the next days
Work: For the little Jobbs sent in by our other Friends now and then put
us back. But so determin'd I was to continue doing a Sheet a Day of the
Folio, that one Night when having impos'd my Forms, I thought my Days
Work over, one of them by accident was broken and two Pages reduc'd to
pie, I immediately distributed and compos'd it over again before I went
to bed. And this Industry visible to our Neighbours began to give us
Character and Credit; particularly I was told, that mention being made
of the new Printing Office at the Merchants every-night Club, the
general Opinion was that it must fail, there being already two Printers
in the Place, Keimer and Bradford; but Dr. Baird (whom you and I saw
many Years after at his native Place, St. Andrews in Scotland) gave a
contrary Opinion; for the Industry of that Franklin, says he, is
superior to any thing I ever saw of the kind: I see him still at work
when I go home from Club; and he is at Work again before his Neighbours
are out of bed. This struck the rest, and we soon after had Offers from
one of them to Supply us with Stationary. But as yet we did not chuse to
engage in Shop Business.
I mention this Industry the more particularly and the more freely, tho'
it seems to be talking in my own Praise, that those of my Posterity who
shall read it, may know the Use of that Virtue, when they see its
Effects in my Favour throughout this Relation.--
George Webb, who had found a Friend that lent him wherewith to purchase
his Time of Keimer, now came to offer himself as a Journeyman to us. We
could not then imploy him, but I foolishly let him know, as a Secret,
that I soon intended to begin a Newspaper, and might then have Work for
him. My Hopes of Success as I told him were founded on this, that the
then only Newspaper [the _American Weekly Mercury_], printed by Bradford
was a paltry thing, wretchedly manag'd, no way entertaining; and yet was
profitable to him.--I therefore thought a good Paper could scarcely fail
of good Encouragem^t. I requested Webb not to mention it, but he told it
to Keimer, who immediately, to be beforehand with me, published
Proposals for Printing one himself, on which Webb was to be employ'd.--I
resented this, and to counteract them, as I could not yet begin our
Paper, I wrote several Pieces of Entertainment for Bradford's Paper,
under the Title of the Busy Body which Brientnal continu'd some Months.
By this means the Attention of the Publick was fix'd on that Paper, and
Keimer's Proposals which we burlesqu'd and ridicul'd, were disregarded.
He began his Paper[9] however, and after carrying it on three Quarters
of a Year, with at most only 90 Subscribers, he offer'd it to me for a
Trifle, and I having been ready some time to go on with it, took it in
hand directly, and it prov'd in a few years extreamly profitable to me.
I perceive that I am apt to speak in the singular Number, though our
Partnership still continu'd. The Reason may be, that in fact the whole
Management of the Business lay upon me. Meredith was no Compositor, a
poor Pressman, and seldom sober. My Friends lamented my Connection with
him, but I was to make the best of it.
Our first Papers made a quite different Appearance from any before in
the Province, a better Type and better printed [In MS is found: "Insert
these Remarks, in a Note."]: but some spirited Remarks of my Writing on
the Dispute then going on between Gov^r Burnet and the Massachusetts
Assembly, struck the principal People, occasion'd the Paper and the
Manager of it to be much talk'd of, and in a few Weeks brought them all
to be our Subscribers. Their Example was follow'd by many, and our
Number went on growing continually.--This was one of the first good
Effects of my having learnt a little to scribble. Another was, that the
leading Men, seeing a News Paper now in the hands of one who could also
handle a Pen, thought it convenient to oblige and encourage me. Bradford
still printed the Votes and Laws and other Publick Business. He had
printed an Address of the House to the Governor in a coarse blundering
manner; We reprinted it elegantly and correctly, and sent one to every
Member. They were sensible of the Difference, it strengthen'd the Hands
of our Friends in the House, and they voted us their Printers for the
Year ensuing.
Among my Friends in the House I must not forget Mr. Hamilton before
mentioned, who was then returned from England and had a Seat in it. He
interested himself for me strongly in that Instance, as he did in many
others afterwards, continuing his Patronage till his Death.[D] M^r
Vernon about this time put me in mind of the Debt I ow'd him: but did
not press me. I wrote him an ingenuous Letter of Acknowledgments, crav'd
his Forbearance a little longer which he allow'd me, and as soon as I
was able I paid the Principal with Interest and many Thanks.--So that
Erratum was in some degree corrected.--
[D] I got his Son once 500 £. [_Franklin's note._]
But now another Difficulty came upon me, which I had never the least
Reason to expect. Mr. Meredith's Father, who was to have paid for our
Printing House according to the Expectations given me, was able to
advance only one Hundred Pounds, Currency, which had been paid, and a
Hundred more was due to the Merchant; who grew impatient and su'd us
all. We gave Bail, but saw that if the Money could not be rais'd in
time, the Suit must come to a Judgment and Execution, and our hopeful
Prospects must with us be ruined, as the Press and Letters must be sold
for Payment, perhaps at half Price.--In this Distress two true Friends
whose Kindness I have never forgotten nor ever shall forget while I can
remember any thing, came to me separately[,] unknown to each other, and
without any Application from me, offering each of them to advance me all
the Money that should be necessary to enable me to take the whole
Business upon myself if that should be practicable, but they did not
like my continuing the Partnership with Meredith, who as they said was
often seen drunk in the Streets, and playing at low Games in Alehouses,
much to our Discredit. These two Friends were _William Coleman_ and
_Robert Grace_. I told them I could not propose a Separation while any
Prospect remain'd of the Merediths fulfilling their Part of our
Agreement. Because I thought myself under great Obligations to them for
what they had done and would do if they could. But if they finally
fail'd in their Performance, and our Partnership must be dissolv'd, I
should then think myself at Liberty to accept the Assistance of my
Friends. Thus the matter rested for some time. When I said to my
Partner, perhaps your Father is dissatisfied at the Part you have
undertaken in this Affair of ours, and is unwilling to advance for you
and me what he would for you alone: If that is the Case, tell me, and I
will resign the whole to you and go about my Business. No[,] says he, my
Father has really been disappointed and is really unable; and I am
unwilling to distress him farther. I see this is a Business I am not fit
for. I was bred a Farmer, and it was a Folly in me to come to Town and
put my Self at 30 Years of Age an Apprentice to learn a new Trade. Many
of our Welsh People are going to settle in North Carolina where Land is
cheap: I am inclin'd to go with them, and following my old Employment.
You may find Friends to assist you. If you will take the Debts of the
Company upon you, return to my Father the hundred Pound he has advanc'd,
pay my little personal Debts, and give me Thirty Pounds and a new
Saddle, I will relinquish the Partnership and leave the whole in your
Hands. I agreed to this Proposal. It was drawn up in Writing, sign'd and
seal'd immediately. I gave him what he demanded and he went soon after
to Carolina; from whence he sent me next Year two long Letters,
containing the best Account that had been given of that Country, the
Climate, Soil, Husbandry, etc. for in those Matters he was very
judicious. I printed them in the Papers, and they gave grate
Satisfaction to the Publick.
As soon as he was gone, I recurr'd to my two Friends; and because I
would not give an unkind Preference to either, I took half what each had
offered and I wanted, of one, and half of the other; paid off the
Company Debts, and went on with the Business in my own Name, advertising
that the Partnership was dissolved. I think this was in or about the
Year 1729 [July 14, 1730].--
About this Time there was a Cry among the People for more Paper-Money,
only 15,000£ being extant in the Province and that soon to be sunk. The
wealthy Inhabitants oppos'd any Addition, being against all Paper
Currency, from an Apprehension that it would depreciate as it had done
in New England to the Prejudice of all Creditors.--We had discuss'd this
Point in our Junto, where I was on the Side of an Addition, being
persuaded that the first small Sum struck in 1723 had done much good, by
increasing the Trade[,] Employment, and Number of Inhabitants in the
Province, since I now saw all the old Houses inhabited, and many new
ones building, where as I remember'd well, that when I first walk'd
about the Streets of Philadelphia, eating my Roll, I saw most of the
Houses in Walnut Street between Second and Front Streets with Bills on
their Doors, to be let; and many likewise in Chesnut Street, and other
Streets; which made me then think the Inhabitants of the City were
deserting it, one after another.--Our Debates possess'd me so fully of
the Subject, that I wrote and printed an anonymous Pamphlet on it,
entituled, _The Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency_. It was well
receiv'd by the common People in general; but the Rich Men dislik'd it;
for it increas'd and strengthen'd the Clamour for more Money; and they
happening to have no Writers among them that were able to answer it,
their Opposition slacken'd, and the Point was carried by a Majority in
the House. My Friends there, who conceiv'd I had been of some Service,
thought fit to reward me, by employing me in printing the Money, a very
profitable Jobb, and a great Help to me.--This was another Advantage
gain'd by my being able to write[.] The Utility of this Currency became
by Time and Experience so evident, as never afterwards to be much
disputed, so that it grew soon to 55,000£ and in 1739 to 80,000£ since
which it arose during War to upwards of 350,000£. Trade, Building and
Inhabitants all the while increasing. Tho' I now think there are Limits
beyond which the Quantity may be hurtful.--
I soon after obtain'd, thro' my Friend Hamilton, the Printing of the New
Castle Paper Money, another profitable Jobb, as I then thought it; small
Things appearing great to those in small Circumstances. And these to me
were really great Advantages, as they were great Encouragements. He
procured me also the Printing of the Laws and Votes of that Government
which continu'd in my Hands as long as I follow'd the Business.--
I now open'd a little Stationer's Shop. I had in it Blanks of all
Sorts[,] the correctest that ever appear'd among us, being assisted in
that by my Friend Brientnal; I had also Paper, Parchment, Chapmen's
Books, etc. One Whitema[r]sh[,] a Compositor I had known in London, an
excellent Workman now came to me and work'd with me constantly and
diligently, and I took an Apprentice the Son of Aquila Rose. I began now
gradually to pay off the Debt I was under for the Printing-House. In
order to secure my Credit and Character as a Tradesman, I took care not
only to be in _Reality_ Industrious and frugal, but to avoid all
_Appearances_ of the Contrary. I drest plainly; I was seen at no Places
of idle Diversion; I never went out a fishing or Shooting; a Book,
indeed, sometimes debauch'd me from my Work; but that was seldom, snug,
and gave no Scandal: and to show that I was not above my Business, I
sometimes brought home the Paper I purchas'd at the Stores, thro' the
Streets on a Wheelbarrow. Thus being esteem'd an industrious thriving
young Man, and paying duly for what I bought, the Merchants who
imported Stationary solicited my Custom, others propos'd supplying me
with Books, I went on swimmingly.--In the mean time Keimer's Credit and
Business declining daily, he was at last forc'd to sell his
Printing-house to satisfy his Creditors. He went to Barbadoes, there
lived some Years, in very poor Circumstances.
His Apprentice David Harry, whom I had instructed while I work'd with
him, set up in his place at Philadelphia, having bought his Materials. I
was at first apprehensive of a powerful Rival in Harry, as his Friends
were very able, and had a good deal of Interest. I therefore propos'd a
Partnership to him; which he, fortunately for me, rejected with Scorn.
He was very proud, dress'd like a Gentleman, liv'd expensively, took
much Diversion and Pleasure abroad, ran in debt, and neglected his
Business, upon which all Business left him; and finding nothing to do,
he follow'd Keimer to Barbadoes; taking the Printing-house with him[.]
There this Apprentice employ'd his former Master as a Journeyman. They
quarrel'd often, Harry went continually behindhand, and at length was
forc'd to sell his Types, and return to his Country work in Pensilvania.
The Person that bought them, employ'd Keimer to use them, but in a few
years he died. There remain'd now no Competitor with me at Philadelphia,
but the old one, Bradford, who was rich and easy, did a little Printing
now and then by straggling Hands, but was not very anxious about it.
However, as he kept the Post Office, it was imagined he had better
Opportunities of obtaining News, his Paper was thought a better
Distributer of Advertisements than mine, and therefore had many more,
which was a profitable thing to him and a Disadvantage to me. For tho' I
did indeed receive and send Papers by Post, yet the publick Opinion was
otherwise; for what I did send was by Bribing the Riders who took them
privately: Bradford being unkind enough to forbid it: which occasion'd
some Resentment on my Part; and I thought so meanly of him for it, that
when I afterwards came into his Situation, I took care never to imitate
it.
I had hitherto continu'd to board with Godfrey who lived in Part of my
House with his Wife and Children, and had one Side of the Shop for his
Glazier's Business, tho' he work'd little, being always absorb'd in his
Mathematics.--Mrs. Godfrey projected a Match for me with a Relation's
Daughter, took Opportunities of bringing us often together, till a
serious Courtship on my Part ensu'd, the Girl being in herself very
deserving. The old Folks encourag'd me by continual Invitations to
Supper, and by leaving us together, till at length it was time to
explain. Mrs. Godfrey manag'd our little Treaty. I let her know that I
expected as much Money with their Daughter as would pay off my Remaining
Debt for the Printinghouse, which I believe was not then above a Hundred
Pounds. She brought me Word they had no such Sum to spare. I said they
might mortgage their House in the Loan Office.--The Answer to this after
some Days was, that they did not approve the Match; that on Enquiry of
Bradford they had been inform'd the Printing Business was not a
profitable one, the Types would soon be worn out and more wanted, that
S. Keimer and D. Harry had fail'd one after the other, and I should
probably soon follow them; and therefore I was forbidden the House, and
the Daughter shut up.--Whether this was a real Change of Sentiment, or
only Artifice, on a Supposition of our being too far engag'd in
Affection to retract, and therefore that we should steal a Marriage,
which would leave them at Liberty to give or with[h]old what they
pleas'd, I know not: But I suspected the latter, resented it, and went
no more. Mrs. Godfrey brought me afterwards some more favourable
Accounts of their Disposition, and would have drawn me on again: But I
declared absolutely my Resolution to have nothing more to do with that
Family. This was resented by the Godfreys, we differ'd, and they
removed, leaving me the whole House, and I resolved to take no more
Inmates. But this Affair having turn'd my Thoughts to Marriage, I look'd
round me, and made Overtures of Acquaintance in other Places; but soon
found that the Business of a Printer being generally thought a poor one,
I was not to expect Money with a Wife unless with such a one, as I
should not otherwise think agreable.--In the mean time, that
hard-to-be-govern'd Passion of Youth, had hurried me frequently into
Intrigues with low Women that fell in my Way, which were attended with
some Expence and great Inconvenience, besides a continual Risque to my
Health by a Distemper which of all Things I dreaded, tho' by great good
Luck I escaped it.--
A friendly Correspondence as Neighbours and old Acquaintances, had
continued between me and Mrs. Read's Family, who all had a Regard for me
from the time of my first Lodging in their House. I was often invited
there and consulted in their Affairs, wherein I sometimes was of
service.--I pity'd poor Miss Read's unfortunate Situation, who was
generally dejected, seldom chearful, and avoided Company. I consider'd
my Giddiness and Inconstancy when in London as in a great degree the
Cause of her Unhappiness; tho' the Mother was good enough to think the
Fault more her own than mine, as she had prevented our Marrying before I
went thither, and persuaded the other Match in my Absence. Our mutual
Affection was revived, but there were now great Objections to our Union.
That Match was indeed look'd upon as invalid, a preceding Wife being
said to be livin[g] in England; but this could not easily be prov'd,
because of the Distance[.] And tho' there was a Report of his Death, it
was not certain. The[n] tho' it should be true, he had left many Debts
which his Successor might be call'd [on] to pay. We venture['d] however,
over all these Difficulties, and I [took] her to Wife Sept. 1. 1730.[10]
None of the Inconveniencies happen[ed] that we had apprehended, she
prov'd a good and faithful Helpmate, assisted me much by attending the
Shop, we throve together, and have ever mutually endeavour'd to make
each other happy. Thus I corrected that great _Erratum_ as wel[l] as I
could.
About [th]is Time our Club meeting, not at a Tavern, but in a little
Room of Mr. Grace's set apart for that Purpose; a Proposition was made
by me that since our Books were often referr'd to in our Disquisitions
upon the Queries, it might be convenient to us to have them all together
where we met, that upon Occasion they might be consulted; and by thus
clubbing our Books to a common Library, we should, while we lik'd to
keep them together, have each of us the Advantage of using the Books of
all the other Members, which would be nearly as beneficial as if each
owned the whole. It was lik'd and agreed to, and we fill'd one End of
the Room with such Books as we could best spare. The Number was not so
great as we expected; and tho' they had been of great Use, yet some
Inconveniencies occurring for want of due Care of them, the Collection
after about a Year was separated, and each took his Books home again.
And now I sent on foot my first Project of a public Nature, [th]at for a
Subscription Library. [I] drew up the Proposals, got them put into Form
by our great Scrivener Brockden, and by the help of my Friends in the
Junto, procur'd Fifty Subscribers of 40/ each to begin with and 10/ a
Year for 50 Years, the Term our Company was to continue. We afterwards
obtain'd a Charter, the Company being increas'd to 100. This was the
Mother of all the N American Subscription Libraries now so numerous, is
become a great thing itself, and continually increasing.--These
Libraries have improv'd the general Conversation of the Americans, made
the common Tradesmen and Farmers as intelligent as most Gentlemen from
other Countries, and perhaps have contributed in some degree to the
Stand so generally made throughout the Colonies in Defence of their
Privileges.--[11]
* * * * *
This library afforded me the means of improvement by constant study, for
which I set apart an hour or two each day, and thus repair'd in some
degree the loss of the learned education my father once intended for me.
Reading was the only amusement I allow'd myself. I spent no time in
taverns, games, or frolicks of any kind; and my industry in my business
continu'd as indefatigable as it was necessary. I was indebted for my
printing-house; I had a young family coming on to be educated, and I had
to contend with for business two printers, who were established in the
place before me. My circumstances, however, grew daily easier. My
original habits of frugality continuing, and my father having, among his
instructions to me when a boy, frequently repeated a proverb of Solomon,
"Seest thou a man diligent in his calling, he shall stand before kings,
he shall not stand before mean men," I from thence considered industry
as a means of obtaining wealth and distinction, which encourag'd me,
tho' I did not think that I should ever literally _stand before kings_,
which, however, has since happened; for I have stood before _five_, and
even had the honour of sitting down with one, the King of Denmark, to
dinner.
We have an English proverb that says, "_He that would thrive, must ask
his wife_." It was lucky for me that I had one as much dispos'd to
industry and frugality as myself. She assisted me chearfully in my
business, folding and stitching pamphlets, tending shop, purchasing old
linen rags for the paper-makers, etc., etc. We kept no idle servants,
our table was plain and simple, our furniture of the cheapest. For
instance, my breakfast was a long time bread and milk (no tea), and I
ate it out of a twopenny earthen porringer, with a pewter spoon. But
mark how luxury will enter families, and make a progress, in spite of
principle: being call'd one morning to breakfast, I found it in a China
bowl, with a spoon of silver! They had been bought for me without my
knowledge by my wife, and had cost her the enormous sum of
three-and-twenty shillings, for which she had no other excuse or apology
to make, but that she thought _her_ husband deserv'd a silver spoon and
China bowl as well as any of his neighbors. This was the first
appearance of plate and China in our house, which afterward, in a course
of years, as our wealth increas'd, augmented gradually to several
hundred pounds in value.
I had been religiously educated as a Presbyterian; and tho' some of the
dogmas of that persuasion, such as _the eternal decrees of God_,
_election_, _reprobation, etc._, appeared to me unintelligible, others
doubtful, and I early absented myself from the public assemblies of the
sect, Sunday being my studying day, I never was without some religious
principles. I never doubted, for instance, the existence of the Deity;
that he made the world, and govern'd it by his Providence; that the most
acceptable service of God was the doing good to man; that our souls are
immortal; and that all crime will be punished, and virtue rewarded,
either here or hereafter. These I esteem'd the essentials of every
religion; and, being to be found in all the religions we had in our
country, I respected them all, tho' with different degrees of respect,
as I found them more or less mix'd with other articles, which, without
any tendency to inspire, promote, or confirm morality, serv'd
principally to divide us, and make us unfriendly to one another. This
respect to all, with an opinion that the worst had some good effects,
induc'd me to avoid all discourse that might tend to lessen the good
opinion another might have of his own religion; and as our province
increas'd in people, and new places of worship were continually wanted,
and generally erected by voluntary contribution, my mite for such
purpose, whatever might be the sect, was never refused.