the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第41章
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Solicitor…General for their opinion and counsel upon it； where it lay
unanswered a year wanting eight days； during which time I made frequent
demands of an answer from the proprietaries； but without obtaining any
other than that they had not yet received the opinion of the Attorney and
Solicitor…General。 What it was when they did receive it I never learnt； for
they did not communicate it to me； but sent a long message to the
Assembly drawn and signed by Paris； reciting my paper； complaining of
its want of formality； as a rudeness on my part； and giving a flimsy
justification of their conduct； adding that they should be willing to
accommodate matters if the Assembly would send out some person of
candour to treat with them for that purpose； intimating thereby that I was
not such。
The want of formality or rudeness was； probably； my not having
address'd the paper to them with their assum'd titles of True and Absolute
Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania； which I omitted as not
thinking it necessary in a paper； the intention of which was only to reduce
to a certainty by writing； what in conversation I had delivered viva voce。
But during this delay； the Assembly having prevailed with Gov'r
Denny to pass an act taxing the proprietary estate in common with the
estates of the people； which was the grand point in dispute； they omitted
answering the message。
When this act however came over； the proprietaries； counselled by
Paris； determined to oppose its receiving the royal assent。 Accordingly
they petition'd the king in Council； and a hearing was appointed in which
two lawyers were employ'd by them against the act； and two by me in
support of it。 They alledg'd that the act was intended to load the
proprietary estate in order to spare those of the people； and that if it were
suffer'd to continue in force； and the proprietaries who were in odium with
the people； left to their mercy in proportioning the taxes； they would
inevitably be ruined。 We reply'd that the act had no such intention； and
would have no such effect。 That the assessors were honest and discreet
men under an oath to assess fairly and equitably； and that any advantage
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each of them might expect in lessening his own tax by augmenting that of
the proprietaries was too trifling to induce them to perjure themselves。
This is the purport of what I remember as urged by both sides； except that
we insisted strongly on the mischievous consequences that must attend a
repeal； for that the money； L100；000； being printed and given to the king's
use； expended in his service； and now spread among the people； the repeal
would strike it dead in their hands to the ruin of many； and the total
discouragement of future grants； and the selfishness of the proprietors in
soliciting such a general catastrophe； merely from a groundless fear of
their estate being taxed too highly； was insisted on in the strongest terms。
On this； Lord Mansfield； one of the counsel rose； and beckoning me took
me into the clerk's chamber； while the lawyers were pleading； and asked
me if I was really of opinion that no injury would be done the proprietary
estate in the execution of the act。 I said certainly。 〃Then；〃 says he； 〃you
can have little objection to enter into an engagement to assure that point。〃
I answer'd； 〃None at all。〃 He then call'd in Paris； and after some discourse；
his lordship's proposition was accepted on both sides； a paper to the
purpose was drawn up by the Clerk of the Council； which I sign'd with Mr。
Charles； who was also an Agent of the Province for their ordinary affairs；
when Lord Mansfield returned to the Council Chamber； where finally the
law was allowed to pass。 Some changes were however recommended and
we also engaged they should be made by a subsequent law； but the
Assembly did not think them necessary； for one year's tax having been
levied by the act before the order of Council arrived； they appointed a
committee to examine the proceedings of the assessors； and on this
committee they put several particular friends of the proprietaries。 After a
full enquiry； they unanimously sign'd a report that they found the tax had
been assess'd with perfect equity。
The Assembly looked into my entering into the first part of the
engagement； as an essential service to the Province； since it secured the
credit of the paper money then spread over all the country。 They gave me
their thanks in form when I return'd。 But the proprietaries were enraged at
Governor Denny for having pass'd the act； and turn'd him out with threats
of suing him for breach of instructions which he had given bond to
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observe。 He； however； having done it at the instance of the General； and
for His Majesty's service； and having some powerful interest at court；
despis'd the threats and they were never put in execution。 。 。 。 ＇Unfinished＇。
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
CHIEF EVENTS IN FRANKLIN'S
LIFE
＇Ending； as it does； with the year 1757； the autobiography leaves
important facts un…recorded。 It has seemed advisable； therefore； to detail
the chief events in Franklin's life； from the beginning； in the following list：
1706 He is born； in Boston； and baptized in the Old South Church。
1714 At the age of eight； enters the Grammar School。
1716 Becomes his father's assistant in the tallow…chandlery business。
1718 Apprenticed to his brother James； printer。
1721 Writes ballads and peddles them； in printed form； in the streets；
contributes； anonymously； to the 〃New England Courant；〃 and temporarily
edits that paper； becomes a free…thinker； and a vegetarian。
1723 Breaks his indenture and removes to Philadelphia； obtaining
employment in Keimer's printing…office； abandons vegetarianism。
1724 Is persuaded by Governor Keith to establish himself
independently； and goes to London to buy type； works at his trade there；
and publishes 〃Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity； Pleasure and Pain。〃
1726 Returns to Philadelphia； after serving as clerk in a dry goods
store； becomes manager of Keimer's printing…house。
1727 Founds the Junto； or 〃Leathern Apron〃 Club。
1728 With Hugh Meredith； opens a printing…office。
1729 Becomes proprietor and editor of the 〃Pennsylvania Gazette〃；
prints； anonymously； 〃Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency〃； opens a
stationer's shop。
1730 Marries Rebecca Read。
1731 Founds the Philadelphia Library。
1732 Publishes the first number of 〃Poor Richard's Almanac〃 under
the pseudonym of 〃Richard Saunders。〃 The Almanac； which continued for
twenty…five years to contain his witty； worldly…wise sayings； played a very
large part in bringing together and molding the American character which
was at that time made up of so many diverse and scattered types。
1738 Begins to study French； Italian； Spanish； and Latin。
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1736 Chosen clerk of the General Assembly； forms the Union Fire
Company of Philadelphia。
1737 Elected to the Assembly； appointed Deputy Postmaster…General；
plans a city police。
1742 Invents the open； or 〃Franklin；〃 stove。
1743 Proposes a plan for an Academy； which is adopted 1749 and
develops into the University of Pennsylvania。
1744 Establishes the American Philosophical Society。
1746 Publishes a pamphlet； 〃Plain Truth；〃 on the necessity for
disciplined defense； and forms a military company； begins electrical
experiments。
1748 Sells out his printing business； is appointed on the Commission
of the Peace； chosen to the Common Council； and to the Assembly。
1749 Appointed a Commissioner to trade with the Indians。
1751 Aids in founding a hospital。
1752 Experiments with a kite and discovers that lightning is an
electrical discharge。
1753 Awarded the Copley medal for this discovery； and elected a
member of the Royal Society； receives the degree of M。A。 from Yale and
Harvard。 Appointed joint Postmaster…General。
1754 Appointed one of the Commissioners from Pennsylvania to the
Colonial Congress at Albany； proposes a plan for the union of the
colonies。
1755 Pledges his personal property in order that supplies may be
raised for Braddock's army； obtains a grant from the Assembly in aid of
the Crown Point expedition； carries through a bill establishing a voluntary
militia； is appointed Colonel； and takes the field。
1757 Introduces a bill in the Assembly for paving the streets of
Philadelphia； publishes his famous 〃Way to Wealth〃； goes to England to
plead the cause of the Assembly against the Proprietaries； remains as agent
for Pennsylvania； enjoys the friendship of the scientific and literary men
of the kingdom。
＇HERE THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY BREAKS OFF＇
1760 Secures from the Privy Council； by a compromise； a decision
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obliging the Proprietary estates to contribute to the public revenue。
1762 Receives the degree of LL。D。 from Oxford and Edinburgh；
returns to America。
1763 Makes a five months' tour of the northern colonies for the
Purpose of inspecting the post…offices。
1764 Defeated by the Penn factio
