the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第10章
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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
expressed himself still more strongly in favor 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；〃 said 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 discovered the trick we had
plaid him； and Osborne was a little laught at。
This transaction fixed 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 cured 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。
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The governor； seeming to like my company； had me frequently to his
house； and his setting me up was always mention'd as a fixed 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 he 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 extremely busy in writing； but would be
down at Newcastle before the ship； and there the letters would be
delivered to me。
Ralph； though 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 engaged 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 returned 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 Russel； masters of an iron work
in Maryland； had engag'd the great cabin； so that Ralph and I were forced
to take up with a berth 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 Newcastle to Philadelphia； the father
being recall'd by a great fee to plead for a seized ship； and； just before we
sail'd； Colonel French coming on board； and showing me great respect； I
was more taken notice of； and； with my friend Ralph； invited by the other
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gentlemen to come into the cabin； there being now room。 Accordingly； we
remov'd thither。
Understanding that Colonel French had brought on board the
governor's despatches； 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 satisfied 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 picked out
six or seven； that； by the handwriting； I thought might be the promised
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 24th of December；
1724。 I waited upon the stationer； who came first in my way； delivering the
letter as from Governor 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 advised me to endeavor getting some employment in the
way of my business。 〃Among the printers here；〃 said he； 〃you will
improve yourself； and when you return to America； you will set up to
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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 persuading him to be bound for him。 By this 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 concerned 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 everybody； 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 passed during his administration。
Ralph and I were inseparable companions。 We took lodgings together
in Little Britain at three shillings and sixpence a 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 Philadelphia。 He had brought
no money with him； the whole he could muster having been expended in
paying his passage。 I had fifteen pistoles； so he borrowed occasionally of
me to subsist； while he was looking out for business。 He first endeavored
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 be 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 endeavored to get employment as a hackney writer；
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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 consumed all my pistoles；
and now just rubbed on from hand to mouth。 He seem'd quite to forget his
wife and child； and I； by degrees； my engagements with Miss Read； to
whom I never wrote more than one letter； and that was to let her know I
was not li
