the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第35章
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was not sufficient to satisfy; and some began to sue me。 General Shirley at
length relieved me from this terrible situation by appointing
commissioners to examine the claims; and ordering payment。 They
amounted to near twenty thousand pound; which to pay would have ruined
me。
Before we had the news of this defeat; the two Doctors Bond came to
me with a subscription paper for raising money to defray the expense of a
grand firework; which it was intended to exhibit at a rejoicing on receipt
of the news of our taking Fort Duquesne。 I looked grave; and said it would;
I thought; be time enough to prepare for the rejoicing when we knew we
should have occasion to rejoice。 They seem'd surpris'd that I did not
immediately comply with their proposal。 〃Why the dl!〃 says one of them;
〃you surely don't suppose that the fort will not be taken?〃 〃I don't know
that it will not be taken; but I know that the events of war are subject to
great uncertainty。〃 I gave them the reasons of my doubting; the
subscription was dropt; and the projectors thereby missed the mortification
they would have undergone if the firework had been prepared。 Dr。 Bond;
on some other occasion afterward; said that he did not like Franklin's
forebodings。
Governor Morris; who had continually worried the Assembly with
message after message before the defeat of Braddock; to beat them into
the making of acts to raise money for the defense of the province; without
taxing; among others; the proprietary estates; and had rejected all their
bills for not having such an exempting clause; now redoubled his attacks
with more hope of success; the danger and necessity being greater。 The
Assembly; however; continu'd firm; believing they had justice on their side;
and that it would be giving up an essential right if they suffered the
governor to amend their money…bills。 In one of the last; indeed; which was
for granting fifty thousand pounds; his propos'd amendment was only of a
single word。 The bill expressed 〃that all estates; real and personal; were to
be taxed; those of the proprietaries not excepted。〃 His amendment was; for
not read only: a small; but very material alteration。 However; when the
news of this disaster reached England; our friends there; whom we had
taken care to furnish with all the Assembly's answers to the governor's
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messages; rais'd a clamor against the proprietaries for their meanness and
injustice in giving their governor such instructions; some going so far as to
say that; by obstructing the defense of their province; they forfeited their
right to it。 They were intimidated by this; and sent orders to their receiver…
general to add five thousand pounds of their money to whatever sum
might be given by the Assembly for such purpose。
This; being notified to the House; was accepted in lieu of their share of
a general tax; and a new bill was form'd; with an exempting clause; which
passed accordingly。 By this act I was appointed one of the commissioners
for disposing of the money; sixty thousand pounds。 I had been active in
modelling the bill and procuring its passage; and had; at the same time;
drawn a bill for establishing and disciplining of a voluntary militia; which
I carried thro' the House without much difficulty; as care was taken in it to
leave the Quakers at their liberty。 To promote the association necessary to
form the militia; I wrote a dialogue; stating and answering all the
objections I could think of to such a militia; which was printed; and had;
as I thought; great effect。
This dialogue and the militia act are in the 〃Gentleman's
Magazine〃 for February and March; 1756。 'Marg。 note。'
While the several companies in the city and country were forming and
learning their exercise; the governor prevail'd with me to take charge of
our North…western frontier; which was infested by the enemy; and provide
for the defense of the inhabitants by raising troops and building a line of
forts。 I undertook this military business; tho' I did not conceive myself
well qualified for it。 He gave me a commission with full powers; and a
parcel of blank commissions for officers; to be given to whom I thought fit。
I had but little difficulty in raising men; having soon five hundred and
sixty under my command。 My son; who had in the preceding war been an
officer in the army rais'd against Canada; was my aid…de…camp; and of
great use to me。 The Indians had burned Gnadenhut; a village settled by
the Moravians; and massacred the inhabitants; but the place was thought a
good situation for one of the forts。
In order to march thither; I assembled the companies at Bethlehem; the
chief establishment of those people。 I was surprised to find it in so good a
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posture of defense; the destruction of Gnadenhut had made them
apprehend danger。 The principal buildings were defended by a stockade;
they had purchased a quantity of arms and ammunition from New York;
and had even plac'd quantities of small paving stones between the
windows of their high stone houses; for their women to throw down upon
the heads of any Indians that should attempt to force into them。 The armed
brethren; too; kept watch; and reliev'd as methodically as in any garrison
town。 In conversation with the bishop; Spangenberg; I mention'd this my
surprise; for; knowing they had obtained an act of Parliament exempting
them from military duties in the colonies; I had suppos'd they were
conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms。 He answer'd me that it was
not one of their established principles; but that; at the time of their
obtaining that act; it was thought to be a principle with many of their
people。 On this occasion; however; they; to their surprise; found it adopted
by but a few。 It seems they were either deceiv'd in themselves; or deceiv'd
the Parliament; but common sense; aided by present danger; will
sometimes be too strong for whimsical opinions。
It was the beginning of January when we set out upon this business of
building forts。 I sent one detachment toward the Minisink; with
instructions to erect one for the security of that upper part of the country;
and another to the lower part; with similar instructions; and I concluded to
go myself with the rest of my force to Gnadenhut; where a fort was tho't
more immediately necessary。 The Moravians procur'd me five waggons for
our tools; stores; baggage; etc。
Just before we left Bethlehem; eleven farmers; who had been driven
from their plantations by the Indians; came to me requesting a supply of
firearms; that they might go back and fetch off their cattle。 I gave them
each a gun with suitable ammunition。 We had not march'd many miles
before it began to rain; and it continued raining all day; there were no
habitations on the road to shelter us; till we arriv'd near night at the house
of a German; where; and in his barn; we were all huddled together; as wet
as water could make us。 It was well we were not attack'd in our march; for
our arms were of the most ordinary sort; and our men could not keep their
gun locks dry。 The Indians are dextrous in contrivances for that purpose;
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which we had not。 They met that day the eleven poor farmers above
mentioned; and killed ten of them。 The one who escap'd inform'd that his
and his companions' guns would not go off; the priming being wet with the
rain。
The next day being fair; we continu'd our march; and arriv'd at the
desolated Gnadenhut。 There was a saw…mill near; round which were left
several piles of boards; with which we soon hutted ourselves; an operation
the more necessary at that inclement season; as we had no tents。 Our first
work was to bury more effectually the dead we found there; who had been
half interr'd by the country people。
The next morning our fort was plann'd and mark'd out; the
circumference measuring four hundred and fifty…five feet; which would
require as many palisades to be made of trees; one with another; of a foot
diameter each。 Our axes; of which we had seventy; were immediately set
to work to cut down trees; and; our men being dextrous in the use of them;
great despatch was made。 Seeing the trees fall so fast; I had the curiosity to
look at my watch when two men began to cut at a pine; in six minutes they
had it upon the ground; and I found it of fourteen inches diameter。 Each
pine made three palisades of eighteen feet long; pointed at one end。 While
these were preparing; our other men dug a trench all round; of three feet
deep; in which the palisades were to be planted; and; our waggons; the
bodys being taken off; and the fore and hind wheels separated by taking
out the pin which united the two parts of the perch; we had ten carriages;
with two horses each; to bring the palisades from the woods to the spot。
When they were set up; our carpenters built a stage of boards all round
within; about six feet high; for the men to stand on when to fire thro' the
loopholes。 We had one swivel gun; which we mounted on one of the
angles; and fir'd it as soon as fix'd; to let the Indians know; if any were
within hearing; that we had such pieces; and thus our fort; if such a
magnificent name may be given to so miserable a stockade; was finish'd in
a week; though it rain'd so hard every other day that the men could not
work。
This gave me occasion to observe; that; when men are employ'd; they
are best content'd; for on the days they worke