the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第16章
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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。
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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；〃 said 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 myself； at thirty 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 follow 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 advanced； 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； the soil； husbandry； etc。； for in those matters he was
very judicious。 I printed them in the papers； and they gave great
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 of what each had
offered and I wanted of one； and half of the other； paid off the company's
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。
About this time there was a cry among the people for more paper
money； only fifteen thousand pounds 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
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the province； since I now saw all the old houses inhabited； and many new
ones building； whereas I remembered 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 Chestnut…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； entitled 〃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
clamor 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 fifty…five
thousand pounds； and in 1739 to eighty thousand pounds； since which it
arose during war to upwards of three hundred and fifty thousand pounds；
trade； building； and inhabitants all the while increasing； till 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
Newcastle 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 for 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
Breintnal。 I had also paper； parchment； chapmen's books； etc。 One
Whitemash； a compositor I had known in London； an excellent workman；
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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 to 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 stationery solicited my custom； others proposed supplying me
with books； and 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； and 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 partner…
ship 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 followed 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 remained 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 the business。 However；
as he kept the post…office； it was imagined he had better opportunities of
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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 the 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
afterward 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 worked little； being always absorbed 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 expe
