the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第26章
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sake； I should not miss of a reward。 And I returned； 〃Don't let me be
mistaken； it was not for Christ's sake； but for your sake。〃 One of our
common acquaintance jocosely remark'd； that； knowing it to be the custom
of the saints； when they received any favour； to shift the burden of the
obligation from off their own shoulders； and place it in heaven； I had
contriv'd to fix it on earth。
The last time I saw Mr。 Whitefield was in London； when he consulted
me about his Orphan House concern； and his purpose of appropriating it to
the establishment of a college。
He had a loud and clear voice； and articulated his words and sentences
so perfectly； that he might be heard and understood at a great distance；
especially as his auditories； however numerous； observ'd the most exact
silence。 He preach'd one evening from the top of the Court…house steps；
which are in the middle of Market…street； and on the west side of Second…
street； which crosses it at right angles。 Both streets were fill'd with his
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hearers to a considerable distance。 Being among the hindmost in Market…
street； I had the curiosity to learn how far he could be heard； by retiring
backwards down the street towards the river； and I found his voice distinct
till I came near Front…street； when some noise in that street obscur'd it。
Imagining then a semi…circle； of which my distance should be the radius；
and that it were fill'd with auditors； to each of whom I allow'd two square
feet； I computed that he might well be heard by more than thirty thousand。
This reconcil'd me to the newspaper accounts of his having preach'd to
twenty…five thousand people in the fields； and to the antient histories of
generals haranguing whole armies； of which I had sometimes doubted。
By hearing him often； I came to distinguish easily between sermons
newly compos'd； and those which he had often preach'd in the course of
his travels。 His delivery of the latter was so improv'd by frequent
repetitions that every accent； every emphasis； every modulation of voice；
was so perfectly well turn'd and well plac'd； that； without being interested
in the subject； one could not help being pleas'd with the discourse； a
pleasure of much the same kind with that receiv'd from an excellent piece
of musick。 This is an advantage itinerant preachers have over those who
are stationary； as the latter can not well improve their delivery of a sermon
by so many rehearsals。
His writing and printing from time to time gave great advantage to his
enemies； unguarded expressions； and even erroneous opinions； delivered
in preaching； might have been afterwards explain'd or qualifi'd by
supposing others that might have accompani'd them； or they might have
been deny'd； but litera scripta monet。 Critics attack'd his writings violently；
and with so much appearance of reason as to diminish the number of his
votaries and prevent their encrease； so that I am of opinion if he had never
written any thing； he would have left behind him a much more numerous
and important sect； and his reputation might in that case have been still
growing； even after his death； as there being nothing of his writing on
which to found a censure and give him a lower character； his proselytes
would be left at liberty to feign for him as great a variety of excellence as
their enthusiastic admiration might wish him to have possessed。
My business was now continually augmenting； and my circumstances
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growing daily easier； my newspaper having become very profitable； as
being for a time almost the only one in this and the neighbouring
provinces。 I experienced； too； the truth of the observation； 〃that after
getting the first hundred pound； it is more easy to get the second；〃 money
itself being of a prolific nature。
The partnership at Carolina having succeeded； I was encourag'd to
engage in others； and to promote several of my workmen； who had
behaved well； by establishing them with printing…houses in different
colonies； on the same terms with that in Carolina。 Most of them did well；
being enabled at the end of our term； six years； to purchase the types of me
and go on working for themselves； by which means several families were
raised。 Partnerships often finish in quarrels； but I was happy in this； that
mine were all carried on and ended amicably； owing； I think； a good deal
to the precaution of having very explicitly settled； in our articles； every
thing to be done by or expected from each partner； so that there was
nothing to dispute； which precaution I would therefore recommend to all
who enter into partnerships； for； whatever esteem partners may have for；
and confidence in each other at the time of the contract； little jealousies
and disgusts may arise； with ideas of inequality in the care and burden of
the business； etc。； which are attended often with breach of friendship and
of the connection； perhaps with lawsuits and other disagreeable
consequences。
I had； on the whole； abundant reason to be satisfied with my being
established in Pennsylvania。 There were； however； two things that I
regretted； there being no provision for defense； nor for a compleat
education of youth； no militia； nor any college。 I therefore； in 1743； drew
up a proposal for establishing an academy； and at that time； thinking the
Reverend Mr。 Peters； who was out of employ； a fit person to superintend
such an institution； I communicated the project to him； but he； having
more profitable views in the service of the proprietaries； which succeeded；
declin'd the undertaking； and； not knowing another at that time suitable for
such a trust； I let the scheme lie a while dormant。 I succeeded better the
next year； 1744； in proposing and establishing a Philosophical Society。
The paper I wrote for that purpose will be found among my writings； when
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collected。
With respect to defense； Spain having been several years at war
against Great Britain； and being at length join'd by France； which brought
us into great danger； and the laboured and long…continued endeavour of
our governor； Thomas； to prevail with our Quaker Assembly to pass a
militia law； and make other provisions for the security of the province；
having proved abortive； I determined to try what might be done by a
voluntary association of the people。 To promote this； I first wrote and
published a pamphlet； entitled PLAIN TRUTH； in which I stated our
defenceless situation in strong lights； with the necessity of union and
discipline for our defense； and promis'd to propose in a few days an
association； to be generally signed for that purpose。 The pamphlet had a
sudden and surprising effect。 I was call'd upon for the instrument of
association； and having settled the draft of it with a few friends； I
appointed a meeting of the citizens in the large building before mentioned。
The house was pretty full； I had prepared a number of printed copies； and
provided pens and ink dispers'd all over the room。 I harangued them a
little on the subject； read the paper； and explained it； and then distributed
the copies； which were eagerly signed； not the least objection being made。
When the company separated； and the papers were collected； we found
above twelve hundred hands； and； other copies being dispersed in the
country； the subscribers amounted at length to upward of ten thousand。
These all furnished themselves as soon as they could with arms； formed
themselves into companies and regiments； chose their own officers； and
met every week to be instructed in the manual exercise； and other parts of
military discipline。 The women； by subscriptions among themselves；
provided silk colors； which they presented to the companies； painted with
different devices and mottos； which I supplied。
The officers of the companies composing the Philadelphia regiment；
being met； chose me for their colonel； but； conceiving myself unfit； I
declin'd that station； and recommended Mr。 Lawrence； a fine person； and
man of influence； who was accordingly appointed。 I then propos'd a lottery
to defray the expense of building a battery below the town； and furnishing
it with cannon。 It filled expeditiously； and the battery was soon erected；
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the merlons being fram'd of logs and fill'd with earth。 We bought some old
cannon from Boston； but； these not being sufficient； we wrote to England
for more； soliciting； at the same time； our proprietaries for some assistance；
tho' without much expectation of obtaining it。
Meanwhile； Colonel Lawrence； William Allen； Abram Taylor； Esqr。；
and myself were sent to New York by the associators； commission'd to
borrow some cannon of Governor Clinton。 He at first refus'd us
peremptorily； but at dinner with his council； where there was great
drinking of Madeira wine； as the custom of that place then was； he
softened by degrees； and said he would lend us six。 After a few more
bumpers he advanc'd to ten； and at length he very good…naturedly
conceded eighteen。 The
