the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第40章
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been remark'd； as an imperfection in the art of ship…building； that it can
never be known； till she is tried； whether a new ship will or will not be a
good sailer； for that the model of a good…sailing ship has been exactly
follow'd in a new one； which has prov'd； on the contrary； remarkably dull。
I apprehend that this may partly be occasion'd by the different opinions of
seamen respecting the modes of lading； rigging； and sailing of a ship； each
has his system； and the same vessel； laden by the judgment and orders of
one captain； shall sail better or worse than when by the orders of another。
Besides； it scarce ever happens that a ship is form'd； fitted for the sea； and
sail'd by the same person。 One man builds the hull； another rigs her； a third
lades and sails her。 No one of these has the advantage of knowing all the
ideas and experience of the others； and； therefore； can not draw just
conclusions from a combination of the whole。
Even in the simple operation of sailing when at sea； I have often
observ'd different judgments in the officers who commanded the
successive watches； the wind being the same。 One would have the sails
trimm'd sharper or flatter than another； so that they seem'd to have no
certain rule to govern by。 Yet I think a set of experiments might be
instituted； first； to determine the most proper form of the hull for swift
sailing； next； the best dimensions and properest place for the masts： then
the form and quantity of sails； and their position； as the wind may be； and；
lastly； the disposition of the lading。 This is an age of experiments； and I
think a set accurately made and combin'd would be of great use。 I am
persuaded； therefore； that ere long some ingenious philosopher will
undertake it； to whom I wish success。
We were several times chas'd in our passage； but outsail'd every thing；
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and in thirty days had soundings。 We had a good observation； and the
captain judg'd himself so near our port； Falmouth； that； if we made a good
run in the night； we might be off the mouth of that harbor in the morning；
and by running in the night might escape the notice of the enemy's
privateers； who often crus'd near the entrance of the channel。 Accordingly；
all the sail was set that we could possibly make； and the wind being very
fresh and fair； we went right before it； and made great way。 The captain；
after his observation； shap'd his course； as he thought； so as to pass wide
of the Scilly Isles； but it seems there is sometimes a strong indraught
setting up St。 George's Channel； which deceives seamen and caused the
loss of Sir Cloudesley Shovel's squadron。 This indraught was probably the
cause of what happened to us。
We had a watchman plac'd in the bow； to whom they often called；
〃Look well out before there；〃 and he as often answered； 〃Ay ay； 〃 but
perhaps had his eyes shut； and was half asleep at the time； they sometimes
answering； as is said； mechanically； for he did not see a light just before us；
which had been hid by the studdingsails from the man at the helm； and
from the rest of the watch； but by an accidental yaw of the ship was
discover'd； and occasion'd a great alarm； we being very near it； the light
appearing to me as big as a cart…wheel。 It was midnight； and our captain
fast asleep； but Captain Kennedy； jumping upon deck； and seeing the
danger； ordered the ship to wear round； all sails standing； an operation
dangerous to the masts； but it carried us clear； and we escaped shipwreck；
for we were running right upon the rocks on which the light…house was
erected。 This deliverance impressed me strongly with the utility of light…
houses； and made me resolve to encourage the building more of them in
America； if I should live to return there。
In the morning it was found by the soundings； etc。； that we were near
our port； but a thick fog hid the land from our sight。 About nine o'clock the
fog began to rise； and seem'd to be lifted up from the water like the curtain
at a play…house； discovering underneath； the town of Falmouth； the vessels
in its harbor； and the fields that surrounded it。 This was a most pleasing
spectacle to those who had been so long without any other prospects than
the uniform view of a vacant ocean； and it gave us the more pleasure as we
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were now free from the anxieties which the state of war occasion'd。
I set out immediately； with my son； for London； and we only stopt a
little by the way to view Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain； and Lord
Pembroke's house and gardens； with his very curious antiquities at Wilton。
We arrived in London the 27th of July； 1757。
Here terminates the Autobiography； as published by Wm。
Temple Franklin and his successors。 What follows was written in the last
year of Dr。 Franklin's life； and was first printed （in English） in Mr。
Bigelow's edition of 1868。ED。
AS SOON as I was settled in a lodging Mr。 Charles had provided for
me； I went to visit Dr。 Fothergill； to whom I was strongly recommended；
and whose counsel respecting my proceedings I was advis'd to obtain。 He
was against an immediate complaint to government； and thought the
proprietaries should first be personally appli'd to； who might possibly be
induc'd by the interposition and persuasion of some private friends； to
accommodate matters amicably。 I then waited on my old friend and
correspondent； Mr。 Peter Collinson； who told me that John Hanbury； the
great Virginia merchant； had requested to be informed when I should
arrive； that he might carry me to Lord Granville's； who was then President
of the Council and wished to see me as soon as possible。 I agreed to go
with him the next morning。 Accordingly Mr。 Hanbury called for me and
took me in his carriage to that nobleman's； who receiv'd me with great
civility； and after some questions respecting the present state of affairs in
America and discourse thereupon； he said to me： 〃You Americans have
wrong ideas of the nature of your constitution； you contend that the king's
instructions to his governors are not laws； and think yourselves at liberty
to regard or disregard them at your own discretion。 But those instructions
are not like the pocket instructions given to a minister going abroad； for
regulating his conduct in some trifling point of ceremony。 They are first
drawn up by judges learned in the laws； they are then considered； debated；
and perhaps amended in Council； after which they are signed by the king。
They are then； so far as they relate to you； the law of the land； for the king
is the LEGISLATOR OF THE COLONIES。〃 I told his lordship this was
new doctrine to me。 I had always understood from our charters that our
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laws were to be made by our Assemblies； to be presented indeed to the
king for his royal assent； but that being once given the king could not
repeal or alter them。 And as the Assemblies could not make permanent
laws without his assent； so neither could he make a law for them without
theirs。 He assur'd me I was totally mistaken。 I did not think so； however；
and his lordship's conversation having a little alarm'd me as to what might
be the sentiments of the court concerning us； I wrote it down as soon as I
return'd to my lodgings。 I recollected that about 20 years before； a clause
in a bill brought into Parliament by the ministry had propos'd to make the
king's instructions laws in the colonies； but the clause was thrown out by
the Commons； for which we adored them as our friends and friends of
liberty； till by their conduct towards us in 1765 it seem'd that they had
refus'd that point of sovereignty to the king only that they might reserve it
for themselves。
After some days； Dr。 Fothergill having spoken to the proprietaries；
they agreed to a meeting with me at Mr。 T。 Penn's house in Spring Garden。
The conversation at first consisted of mutual declarations of disposition to
reasonable accommodations； but I suppose each party had its own ideas of
what should be meant by reasonable。 We then went into consideration of
our several points of complaint； which I enumerated。 The proprietaries
justify'd their conduct as well as they could； and I the Assembly's。 We now
appeared very wide； and so far from each other in our opinions as to
discourage all hope of agreement。 However； it was concluded that I should
give them the heads of our complaints in writing； and they promis'd then
to consider them。 I did so soon after； but they put the paper into the hands
of their solicitor； Ferdinand John Paris； who managed for them all their
law business in their great suit with the neighbouring proprietary of
Maryland； Lord Baltimore； which had subsisted 70 years； and wrote for
them all their papers and messages in their dispute with the Assembly。 He
was a proud； angry man； and as I had occasionally in the answers of the
Assembly treated his papers with some severity； they being really weak in
point of argument and haughty in expression； he had conceived a mortal
enmity to me； which discovering itself whenever we met； I declin'd the
proprietary's proposal that he and I should discuss the heads of complaint
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between our two selves； and refus'd treating with any one but them。 They
then by his advice put the paper into the hands of the Attorney and
Solicitor…Gener
