the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第29章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
acquainted； as he had work'd for me four years。 He took off my hands all
110
… Page 111…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
care of the printing…office； paying me punctually my share of the profits。
This partnership continued eighteen years； successfully for us both。
The trustees of the academy； after a while； were incorporated by a
charter from the governor； their funds were increas'd by contributions in
Britain and grants of land from the proprietaries； to which the Assembly
has since made considerable addition； and thus was established the present
University of Philadelphia。 I have been continued one of its trustees from
the beginning； now near forty years； and have had the very great pleasure
of seeing a number of the youth who have receiv'd their education in it；
distinguish'd by their improv'd abilities； serviceable in public stations and
ornaments to their country。
When I disengaged myself； as above mentioned； from private business；
I flatter'd myself that； by the sufficient tho' moderate fortune I had acquir'd；
I had secured leisure during the rest of my life for philosophical studies
and amusements。 I purchased all Dr。 Spence's apparatus； who had come
from England to lecture here； and I proceeded in my electrical experiments
with great alacrity； but the publick； now considering me as a man of
leisure； laid hold of me for their purposes； every part of our civil
government； and almost at the same time； imposing some duty upon me。
The governor put me into the commission of the peace； the corporation of
the city chose me of the common council； and soon after an alderman； and
the citizens at large chose me a burgess to represent them in Assembly。
This latter station was the more agreeable to me； as I was at length tired
with sitting there to hear debates； in which； as clerk； I could take no part；
and which were often so unentertaining that I was induc'd to amuse myself
with making magic squares or circles； or any thing to avoid weariness； and
I conceiv'd my becoming a member would enlarge my power of doing
good。 I would not； however； insinuate that my ambition was not flatter'd
by all these promotions； it certainly was； for； considering my low
beginning； they were great things to me； and they were still more pleasing；
as being so many spontaneous testimonies of the public good opinion； and
by me entirely unsolicited。
The office of justice of the peace I try'd a little； by attending a few
courts； and sitting on the bench to hear causes； but finding that more
111
… Page 112…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
knowledge of the common law than I possess'd was necessary to act in
that station with credit； I gradually withdrew from it； excusing myself by
my being oblig'd to attend the higher duties of a legislator in the Assembly。
My election to this trust was repeated every year for ten years； without my
ever asking any elector for his vote； or signifying； either directly or
indirectly； any desire of being chosen。 On taking my seat in the House； my
son was appointed their clerk。
The year following； a treaty being to be held with the Indians at
Carlisle； the governor sent a message to the House； proposing that they
should nominate some of their members； to be join'd with some members
of council； as commissioners for that purpose。 The House named the
speaker （Mr。 Norris） and myself； and； being commission'd； we went to
Carlisle； and met the Indians accordingly。
See the votes to have this more correctly。 ＇Marg。 note。＇
As those people are extreamly apt to get drunk； and； when so； are very
quarrelsome and disorderly； we strictly forbad the selling any liquor to
them； and when they complain'd of this restriction； we told them that if
they would continue sober during the treaty； we would give them plenty of
rum when business was over。 They promis'd this； and they kept their
promise； because they could get no liquor； and the treaty was conducted
very orderly； and concluded to mutual satisfaction。 They then claim'd and
receiv'd the rum； this was in the afternoon； they were near one hundred
men； women； and children； and were lodg'd in temporary cabins； built in
the form of a square； just without the town。 In the evening； hearing a great
noise among them； the commissioners walk'd out to see what was the
matter。 We found they had made a great bonfire in the middle of the square；
they were all drunk； men and women； quarreling and fighting。 Their dark…
colour'd bodies； half naked； seen only by the gloomy light of the bonfire；
running after and beating one another with firebrands； accompanied by
their horrid yellings； form'd a scene the most resembling our ideas of hell
that could well be imagin'd； there was no appeasing the tumult； and we
retired to our lodging。 At midnight a number of them came thundering at
our door； demanding more rum； of which we took no notice。
The next day； sensible they had misbehav'd in giving us that
112
… Page 113…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
disturbance； they sent three of their old counselors to make their apology。
The orator acknowledg'd the fault； but laid it upon the rum； and then
endeavored to excuse the rum by saying； 〃The Great Spirit； who made all
things； made every thing for some use； and whatever use he design'd any
thing for； that use it should always be put to。 Now； when he made rum； he
said 'Let this be for the Indians to get drunk with；' and it must be so。〃 And；
indeed； if it be the design of Providence to extirpate these savages in order
to make room for cultivators of the earth； it seems not improbable that rum
may be the appointed means。 It has already annihilated all the tribes who
formerly inhabited the sea…coast。
In 1751； Dr。 Thomas Bond； a particular friend of mine； conceived the
idea of establishing a hospital in Philadelphia （a very beneficent design；
which has been ascrib'd to me； but was originally his）； for the reception
and cure of poor sick persons； whether inhabitants of the province or
strangers。 He was zealous and active in endeavouring to procure
subscriptions for it； but the proposal being a novelty in America； and at
first not well understood； he met with but small success。
At length he came to me with the compliment that he found there was
no such thing as carrying a public…spirited project through without my
being concern'd in it。 〃For；〃 says he； 〃I am often ask'd by those to whom I
propose subscribing； Have you consulted Franklin upon this business？
And what does he think of it？ And when I tell them that I have not
（supposing it rather out of your line）； they do not subscribe； but say they
will consider of it。〃 I enquired into the nature and probable utility of his
scheme； and receiving from him a very satisfactory explanation； I not only
subscrib'd to it myself； but engag'd heartily in the design of procuring
subscriptions from others。 Previously； however； to the solicitation； I
endeavoured to prepare the minds of the people by writing on the subject
in the newspapers； which was my usual custom in such cases； but which
he had omitted。
The subscriptions afterwards were more free and generous； but；
beginning to flag； I saw they would be insufficient without some
assistance from the Assembly； and therefore propos'd to petition for it；
which was done。 The country members did not at first relish the project；
113
… Page 114…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
they objected that it could only be serviceable to the city； and therefore the
citizens alone should be at the expense of it； and they doubted whether the
citizens themselves generally approv'd of it。 My allegation on the contrary；
that it met with such approbation as to leave no doubt of our being able to
raise two thousand pounds by voluntary donations； they considered as a
most extravagant supposition； and utterly impossible。
On this I form'd my plan； and asking leave to bring in a bill for
incorporating the contributors according to the prayer of their petition； and
granting them a blank sum of money； which leave was obtained chiefly on
the consideration that the House could throw the bill out if they did not
like it； I drew it so as to make the important clause a conditional one； viz。；
〃And be it enacted； by the authority aforesaid； that when the said
contributors shall have met and chosen their managers and treasurer； and
shall have raised by their contributions a capital stock of … value （the
yearly interest of which is to be applied to the accommodating of the sick
poor in the said hospital； free of charge for diet； attendance； advice； and
medicines）； and shall make the same appear to the satisfaction of the
speaker of the Assembly for the time being； that then it shall and may be
lawful for the said speaker； and be is hereby required； to sign an order on
the provincial treasurer for the payment of two thousand pounds； in two
yearly payments； to the treasurer of the said hospital； to be applied to the
founding； building； and finishing of the same。〃
This condition carried the bill through； for the members； who had
oppos'd the grant； and now conceiv'd they might have the credit of being
charitable without the expence； agreed to its passage； and then； in
soliciting subscriptions among the people； we urg'd the conditional
promise of the law as an additional motive to give； since every man's
donation would be doubled； thus the clause work'd both ways。 The
subscriptions accordingly soon exceeded the requisite sum
