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第33章

the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第33章


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than one hundred and fifty waggons being necessary。 

     I   happened   to   say   I   thought   it   was   a   pity   they   had   not   been   landed 

rather   in   Pennsylvania;   as   in   that   country   almost   every   farmer   had   his 

waggon。 The general eagerly laid hold of my words; and said; 〃Then you; 

sir; who are a man of interest there; can probably procure them for us; and 

I   beg   you   will   undertake   it。〃   I   ask'd   what   terms   were   to   be   offer'd   the 

owners of the waggons; and I was desir'd to put on paper the terms that 

appeared   to   me   necessary。   This   I   did;   and   they   were   agreed   to;   and   a 

commission         and    instructions     accordingly      prepar'd     immediately。       What 

those terms were will appear in the advertisement I publish'd as soon as I 

arriv'd   at   Lancaster;   which   being;   from   the   great   and   sudden   effect   it 

produc'd; a piece of some curiosity; I shall insert it at length; as follows: 

        〃ADVERTISEMENT。 〃LANCASTER; April 26; 1755。 

     〃Whereas;   one   hundred   and   fifty   waggons;   with   four   horses   to   each 

waggon;   and   fifteen   hundred   saddle   or   pack   horses;   are   wanted   for   the 

service of his   majesty's forces now about   to rendezvous   at Will's   Creek; 

and his excellency General Braddock having been pleased to empower me 

to contract for the hire of the same; I hereby give notice that I shall attend 

for  that   purpose   at   Lancaster   from  this   day  to   next Wednesday  evening; 

and at York from next Thursday morning till Friday evening; where I shall 

be    ready    to  agree    for   waggons       and   teams;    or   single    horses;    on   the 

following   terms;   viz。:   I。  That   there   shall   be   paid   for   each   waggon;   with 

four good horses and a driver; fifteen shillings per diem; and for each able 



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horse with a pack…saddle; or other saddle and furniture; two shillings per 

diem; and for each able horse without a saddle; eighteen pence per diem。 2。 

That the pay commence from the time of their joining the forces at Will's 

Creek; which must   be on or before the 20th   of May ensuing;  and that a 

reasonable   allowance be   paid   over   and   above   for   the   time   necessary  for 

their   travelling   to   Will's   Creek   and   home   again   after   their   discharge。   3。 

Each waggon and team; and every saddle or pack horse; is to be valued by 

indifferent persons chosen between me and the owner; and in case of the 

loss of any waggon; team; or other horse in the service; the price according 

to such valuation   is to be   allowed   and paid。  4。  Seven days' pay  is   to   be 

advanced and paid in hand by me to the owner of each waggon and team; 

or horse; at the time of contracting; if required; and the remainder to be 

paid by General Braddock; or by the paymaster of the army; at the time of 

their   discharge;   or   from   time   to   time;   as   it   shall   be   demanded。   5。   No 

drivers of waggons; or persons taking care of the hired horses; are on any 

account   to   be   called   upon   to   do   the   duty   of   soldiers;   or   be   otherwise 

employed than in conducting or taking care of their carriages or horses。 6。 

All oats; Indian corn; or other forage that waggons or horses bring to the 

camp;   more   than   is   necessary  for   the   subsistence   of   the   horses;   is   to   be 

taken for the use of the army; and a reasonable price paid for the same。 

     〃Note。My   son;   William   Franklin;   is   empowered   to   enter   into   like 

contracts with any person in Cumberland county。 〃B。 FRANKLIN。〃 

       〃To    the   inhabitants     of   the   Counties      of   Lancaster;     York    and 

Cumberland。 

     〃Friends and Countrymen; 

     〃Being occasionally at the camp at Frederic a few days since; I found 

the   general   and   officers   extremely   exasperated   on   account   of   their   not 

being supplied with horses and carriages; which had been expected from 

this province; as most able to furnish them; but; through the dissensions 

between our governor and Assembly;   money had not been provided; nor 

any steps taken for that purpose。 

     〃It   was   proposed     to  send    an  armed     force   immediately      into  these 

counties; to seize   as many  of the   best carriages   and horses   as should   be 

wanted;      and   compel     as  many     persons    into   the  service    as  would     be 



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necessary to drive and take care of them。 

     〃I   apprehended      that   the  progress    of  British   soldiers    through    these 

counties on such an occasion; especially considering the temper they are in; 

and their resentment against us; would be attended with many and   great 

inconveniences   to   the   inhabitants;   and therefore   more   willingly  took   the 

trouble of trying first what might be done by fair and equitable means。 The 

people of these back counties have lately complained to the Assembly that 

a sufficient currency was wanting; you have an opportunity of receiving 

and dividing among you a very considerable sum; for; if the service of this 

expedition   should   continue;   as   it   is   more   than   probable   it   will;   for   one 

hundred      and   twenty   days;    the  hire   of  these   waggons      and   horses   will 

amount to upward of   thirty thousand pounds;  which   will be   paid   you in 

silver and gold of the king's money。 

     〃The   service   will   be   light   and   easy;   for   the   army   will   scarce   march 

above twelve miles per day; and the waggons and baggage…horses; as they 

carry those things that are absolutely necessary to the welfare of the army; 

must   march   with   the   army;   and   no   faster;   and   are;   for   the   army's   sake; 

always placed where they can be most secure; whether in a march or in a 

camp。 

     〃If you are really; as I believe you are; good and loyal subjects to his 

majesty; you may now do a most acceptable service; and make it easy to 

yourselves; for three or four of such as can not separately spare from the 

business of their plantations a waggon and four horses and a driver; may 

do it together; one furnishing the waggon; another one or two horses; and 

another the driver; and divide the pay proportionately between you; but if 

you do not   this service to   your king and   country voluntarily; when   such 

good   pay   and   reasonable   terms   are   offered   to   you;   your   loyalty   will   be 

strongly   suspected。   The   king's   business   must   be   done;   so   many   brave 

troops;   come   so   far   for   your   defense;   must   not   stand   idle   through   your 

backwardness to do what may be reasonably expected from you; waggons 

and horses must be had; violent measures will probably be used; and you 

will be left to seek for a recompense where you can find it; and your case; 

perhaps; be little pitied or regarded。 

     〃I have no particular interest in this affair; as; except the satisfaction of 



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endeavoring to do good; I shall have only my labour for my pains。 If this 

method of obtaining the waggons and horses is not likely to succeed; I am 

obliged   to   send   word   to   the   general   in   fourteen   days;   and   I   suppose   Sir 

John St。 Clair; the hussar; with a body of soldiers; will immediately enter 

the province for the purpose; which I shall be sorry to hear; because I am 

very sincerely and truly your friend and well…wisher; B。 FRANKLIN。〃 

       I received of the general about eight hundred pounds; to be disbursed 

in   advance…money         to  the   waggon      owners;     etc。;  but;  that   sum    being 

insufficient; I advanc'd upward of two hundred pounds more; and in two 

weeks the one hundred and fifty waggons; with two hundred and fifty…nine 

carrying   horses;   were   on   their   march   for   the   camp。   The   advertisement 

promised payment according to the valuation; in case any waggon or horse 

should be lost。 The owners; however; alleging they did not know General 

Braddock; or what dependence might be had on his promise; insisted on 

my bond for the performance; which I accordingly gave them。 

     While   I   was   at   the   camp;   supping   one   evening   with   the   officers   of 

Colonel      Dunbar's    regiment;     he   represented     to  me   his  concern     for  the 

subalterns;   who;   he   said;   were   generally   not   in   affluence;   and   could   ill 

afford; in this dear country; to lay in the stores that might be necessary in 

so long a march; thro' a wilderness; where nothing was to be purchas'd。 I 

commiserated their case; and resolved to endeavor procuring them some 

relief。 I said nothing; however; to him of my intention; but wrote the next 

morning   to   the   committee   of   the Assembly;   who   had   the   disposition   of 

some public   money;   warmly  recommending  the   case of   these officers   to 

their  consideration;  and   proposing  that   a   present   should be   sent   them  of 

necessaries   and   refreshments。   My   son;   who   had   some   experience   of   a 

camp life; and of its wants; drew up a list for me; which I enclos'd in my 

letter。 The committee approv'd; and used such diligence that; conducted by 

my   son;   the   stores   arrived   at   the   camp   as   soon   as   the   waggons。   They 

consisted of twenty parcels; each containing 

     6   lbs。 loaf  sugar。  1   Gloucester   cheese。  6 lbs。  good   Muscovado   do。   1 

kegg containing 20 lbs。 good 1 lb。 good green tea。 butter。 1 lb。 good bohea 

do。 2 doz。 old Madeira wine。 6 lbs。 good ground coffee。 2 gallons Jamaica 

spirits。   6   lbs。   chocolate。   1   bottle   flour   of   mustard。   1…2   cwt。   best   white 



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biscuit。 2 well…cur'd hams。 1…2 lb。 pepper。 1…2 dozen dry'd tongues。 1 quart 

best white wine vinegar 6 lbs。 rice。 6 lbs。 raisins。 

     These   twenty   parcels;   well   pack'd;   were   placed   on   as   many   horses; 

each   parcel;   with   the   horse;   being   intended   as   a   present   for   one   officer。 

They   were   very   thankfully   receiv'd;   and   the   kindness   acknowledg'd   by 

letters   to   me   from   the   colonels   of   both   regiments;   in   the   most   grateful 

terms。 The general; too; was highly satisfied with my

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