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
