the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第28章
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See the votes。＇Marg。 note。＇
It was in allusion to this fact that； when in our fire company we feared
the success of our proposal in favour of the lottery； and I had said to my
friend Mr。 Syng； one of our members； 〃If we fail； let us move the purchase
of a fire…engine with the money； the Quakers can have no objection to that；
and then； if you nominate me and I you as a committee for that purpose；
we will buy a great gun； which is certainly a fire…engine。〃 〃I see；〃 says he；
〃you have improv'd by being so long in the Assembly； your equivocal
project would be just a match for their wheat or other grain。〃
These embarrassments that the Quakers suffer'd from having
establish'd and published it as one of their principles that no kind of war
was lawful； and which； being once published； they could not afterwards；
however they might change their minds； easily get rid of； reminds me of
what I think a more prudent conduct in another sect among us； that of the
Dunkers。 I was acquainted with one of its founders； Michael Welfare； soon
after it appear'd。 He complain'd to me that they were grievously
calumniated by the zealots of other persuasions； and charg'd with
abominable principles and practices； to which they were utter strangers。 I
told him this had always been the case with new sects； and that； to put a
stop to such abuse； I imagin'd it might be well to publish the articles of
their belief； and the rules of their discipline。 He said that it had been
propos'd among them； but not agreed to； for this reason： 〃When we were
first drawn together as a society；〃 says he； 〃it had pleased God to enlighten
our minds so far as to see that some doctrines； which we once esteemed
truths； were errors； and that others； which we had esteemed errors； were
real truths。 From time to time He has been pleased to afford us farther
light； and our principles have been improving； and our errors diminishing。
Now we are not sure that we are arrived at the end of this progression； and
at the perfection of spiritual or theological knowledge； and we fear that； if
we should once print our confession of faith； we should feel ourselves as if
bound and confin'd by it； and perhaps be unwilling to receive farther
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improvement； and our successors still more so； as conceiving what we
their elders and founders had done； to be something sacred； never to be
departed from。〃
This modesty in a sect is perhaps a singular instance in the history of
mankind； every other sect supposing itself in possession of all truth； and
that those who differ are so far in the wrong； like a man traveling in foggy
weather； those at some distance before him on the road he sees wrapped
up in the fog； as well as those behind him； and also the people in the fields
on each side； but near him all appears clear； tho' in truth he is as much in
the fog as any of them。 To avoid this kind of embarrassment； the Quakers
have of late years been gradually declining the public service in the
Assembly and in the magistracy； choosing rather to quit their power than
their principle。
In order of time； I should have mentioned before； that having； in 1742；
invented an open stove for the better warming of rooms； and at the same
time saving fuel； as the fresh air admitted was warmed in entering； I made
a present of the model to Mr。 Robert Grace； one of my early friends； who；
having an iron…furnace； found the casting of the plates for these stoves a
profitable thing； as they were growing in demand。 To promote that demand；
I wrote and published a pamphlet； entitled 〃An Account of the new…
invented Pennsylvania Fireplaces； wherein their Construction and Manner
of Operation is particularly explained； their Advantages above every other
Method of warming Rooms demonstrated； and all Objections that have
been raised against the Use of them answered and obviated；〃 etc。 This
pamphlet had a good effect。 Gov'r。 Thomas was so pleas'd with the
construction of this stove； as described in it； that he offered to give me a
patent for the sole vending of them for a term of years； but I declin'd it
from a principle which has ever weighed with me on such occasions； viz。；
That； as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others； we
should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours；
and this we should do freely and generously。
An ironmonger in London however； assuming a good deal of my
pamphlet； and working it up into his own； and making some small changes
in the machine； which rather hurt its operation； got a patent for it there；
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and made； as I was told； a little fortune by it。 And this is not the only
instance of patents taken out for my inventions by others； tho' not always
with the same success； which I never contested； as having no desire of
profiting by patents myself； and hating disputes。 The use of these
fireplaces in very many houses； both of this and the neighbouring colonies；
has been； and is； a great saving of wood to the inhabitants。
Peace being concluded； and the association business therefore at an
end； I turn'd my thoughts again to the affair of establishing an academy。
The first step I took was to associate in the design a number of active
friends； of whom the Junto furnished a good part； the next was to write
and publish a pamphlet； entitled Proposals Relating to the Education of
Youth in Pennsylvania。 This I distributed among the principal inhabitants
gratis； and as soon as I could suppose their minds a little prepared by the
perusal of it； I set on foot a subscription for opening and supporting an
academy； it was to be paid in quotas yearly for five years； by so dividing it；
I judg'd the subscription might be larger； and I believe it was so；
amounting to no less； if I remember right； than five thousand pounds。
In the introduction to these proposals； I stated their publication； not as
an act of mine； but of some publick…spirited gentlemen； avoiding as much
as I could； according to my usual rule； the presenting myself to the publick
as the author of any scheme for their benefit。
The subscribers； to carry the project into immediate execution； chose
out of their number twenty…four trustees； and appointed Mr。 Francis； then
attorney…general； and myself to draw up constitutions for the government
of the academy； which being done and signed； a house was hired； masters
engag'd； and the schools opened； I think； in the same year； 1749。
The scholars increasing fast； the house was soon found too small； and
we were looking out for a piece of ground； properly situated； with
intention to build； when Providence threw into our way a large house
ready built； which； with a few alterations； might well serve our purpose。
This was the building before mentioned； erected by the hearers of Mr。
Whitefield； and was obtained for us in the following manner。
It is to be noted that the contributions to this building being made by
people of different sects； care was taken in the nomination of trustees； in
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whom the building and ground was to be vested； that a predominancy
should not be given to any sect； lest in time that predominancy might be a
means of appropriating the whole to the use of such sect； contrary to the
original intention。 It was therefore that one of each sect was appointed；
viz。； one Church…of…England man； one Presbyterian； one Baptist； one
Moravian； etc。； those； in case of vacancy by death； were to fill it by
election from among the contributors。 The Moravian happen'd not to
please his colleagues； and on his death they resolved to have no other of
that sect。 The difficulty then was； how to avoid having two of some other
sect； by means of the new choice。
Several persons were named； and for that reason not agreed to。 At
length one mention'd me； with the observation that I was merely an honest
man； and of no sect at all； which prevail'd with them to chuse me。 The
enthusiasm which existed when the house was built had long since abated；
and its trustees had not been able to procure fresh contributions for paying
the ground…rent； and discharging some other debts the building had
occasion'd； which embarrass'd them greatly。 Being now a member of both
setts of trustees； that for the building and that for the Academy； I had a
good opportunity of negotiating with both； and brought them finally to an
agreement； by which the trustees for the building were to cede it to those
of the academy； the latter undertaking to discharge the debt； to keep for
ever open in the building a large hall for occasional preachers； according
to the original intention； and maintain a free… school for the instruction of
poor children。 Writings were accordingly drawn； and on paying the debts
the trustees of the academy were put in possession of the premises； and by
dividing the great and lofty hall into stories； and different rooms above
and below for the several schools； and purchasing some additional ground；
the whole was soon made fit for our purpose； and the scholars remov'd
into the building。 The care and trouble of agreeing with the workmen；
purchasing materials； and superintending the work； fell upon me； and I
went thro' it the more cheerfully； as it did not then interfere with my
private business； having the year before taken a very able； industrious； and
honest partner； Mr。 David Hall； with whose character I was well
acqu
