the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第15章
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should produce one or more queries on any point of Morals； Politics； or
Natural Philosophy； to be discuss'd 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 inquiry 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； a copyer of deeds for the
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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； a self…taught mathematician； great in his way； and
afterward inventor of what is now called 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
everything said； or was for ever 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； 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 it。 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 characteriz'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； dearest 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； upward of forty years； and the club
continued almost as long； and was the best school of philosophy； morality；
and politics that then existed in the province； for our queries； which were
read the week preceding their discussion； put us upon 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 further of hereafter。
But my giving this account of it here is to show something of the
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interest I had； every one of these exerting themselves in recommending
business to us。 Breintnal particularly procur'd us from the Quakers the
printing forty sheets of their history； the rest being to be done by Keimer；
and upon this we work'd exceedingly 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 worked it off at press； it was often eleven at
night； and sometimes later； before I had finished my distribution for the
next day's 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
day's work over； one of them by accident was broken； and two pages
reduced to pi； I immediately distributed and compos'd it over again before
I went to bed； and this industry； visible to our neighbors； 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。 Andrew's 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 neighbors are out of bed。〃 This struck the rest；
and we soon after had offers from one of them to supply us with stationery；
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 female 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 employ 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； printed by Bradford； was a paltry thing；
wretchedly manag'd； no way entertaining； and yet was profitable to him； I
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therefore thought a good paper would scarcely fail of good encouragement。
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 Breintnal continu'd some months。 By this means the attention of the
publick was fixed on that paper； and Keimer's proposals； which we
burlesqu'd and ridicul'd； were disregarded。 He began his paper； however；
and； after carrying it on three quarters of a year； with at most only ninety
subscribers； he offered 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
extremely 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； but some spirited remarks of
my writing； on the dispute then going on between Governor Burnet and
the Massachusetts Assembly； struck the principal people； occasioned 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
newspaper 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 strengthened the hands of our friends in the House；
and they voted us their printers for the year ensuing。
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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 afterward； continuing his patronage till his death。
I got his son once L500。＇Marg。 note。＇
Mr。 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 acknowledgment；
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。
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 soon 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 al
