1我对我的这次旅行做了非常详细的描述，我初次进这个城市的情况我也将详细地介绍。这样做是为了使你在想象中能够把这种不太有希望的开始，和我以后成为这个城市的重要人物做一个对比。因为我所有的好衣服要从海道运来，所以我就穿着工作服。长途旅行，我浑身都是脏兮兮的，口袋里装满了衬衫和袜子。我一个人都不认识，也不知道去哪里住。因为旅行，划船，缺乏休息而感到十分疲倦，人又很饿。但是我所有现金是1荷兰盾和1个先令的铜币。我把铜币付给船老板作为船钱，他起先不肯收，因为我划了船，但我坚持要他收下。一个人很穷的时候，他可能比有钱的时候更慷慨，也许因为害怕别人认为他很小气。
2然后我就到大街上去了，四处打量，直到我在市场附近遇到一个手拿面包的男孩。我以前经常拿面包当饭吃，问过他在哪里买面包以后，我立即走到他指给我看的那个面包店，就在第二街那里。我要我们在波士顿那里一样的面包，但是在费城他们好像不做那样的。然后，我就要一个3便士的面包，他们说那也没有。我没有考虑到或者不知道两地货币价值的不同，费城的东西相当便宜。我便要他们给我价值3便士的任何面包，于是，他给了3个很大的面包。我对他给我的面包数量大为吃惊，但我还是接下来了。由于口袋里面没有地方放，所以我就一只胳膊下夹一个，嘴巴里面吃着另外一个。我就这个样子从市场路到了第四大街，经过了我未来岳父里德先生的门口。我未来的妻子——她这个时候正好在门口，她看到了我，她觉得我的样子非常滑稽可笑，事实上我就是那个样子。转了一个弯，然后我又来到了板栗街和胡桃街的一段，一路上我都吃着我那面包。又转了个弯以后，我发现自己又回到了市场街我们船停靠码头的附近，我就在那里喝了点河水。由于一个面包我就吃饱了，我把剩下的两个面包给了一个妇女和她的孩子。她们是和我一起坐船来的，现在正准备继续她们的行程。
3吃过饭，我有了精神，我到大街溜达去。大街上衣冠楚楚的人多了起来，他们都朝着一个方向去。我加入他们的队伍，进入到了市场附近的教友会的大教堂里面。我坐在他们中间，四处看了看，没有发现有人发表演讲。由于前天晚上缺乏睡眠和过度的劳累，我困死了，于是睡着了，一直睡到会议结束为止。这时候，一个好心人把我叫醒了。这就是我第一次在费城进过或者说睡过觉的房子。
4我向河边走去，一路上我注视着人们的脸庞。我碰到了一个我觉得脸庞和善的教友会教徒，我就问他，外地人可以到哪里住宿。那个时候，我们正在“三个水手”的店牌附近。他说：“就是这里了！”。“这里就是接待外来旅客的地方，但这个地方的声誉不好，你要是愿意的话就跟我走，我会带你到一个更好的地方去。”后来，他就把我带到了水街的克鲁克旅馆。我就住在那里。当我吃饭的时候，店主问了我几个意味深长的问题，可能从年龄和外表来看我像个逃犯。
5吃过饭以后，睡意又来了。店家就把我领到我的铺位那里，我没有脱衣服就睡下了，一直睡到晚上6点的时候，然后我被叫醒去吃晚饭。吃过饭，我又早早地去睡觉了，一直睡到第二天早晨。我尽量把自己打扮得整洁一点，然后去了安德鲁·布雷福德印刷厂。在那个地方，我碰到了那个店主的父亲，就是我在纽约认识的那个老人家。老人家是骑马来的，他比我先到费城。他把我介绍给他的儿子，他儿子很客气地待我，并且请我吃了早餐。但他告诉我，他现在不缺人手，因为他最近刚招了个人。不过，镇上刚开了一家印刷所，店主叫凯默，他可能会要我。如果不行的话，他欢迎我住在他家，并会给我点零活干干，直到我找到工作为止。
6老人家说他愿意和我一起去那个印刷的老板那里。当我们找到那家店老板的时候，布雷福德就对他说，“朋友啊，我带了个年轻的印刷匠给你，你也许会需要他的。”他问了我一些问题，然后给我一副字盘，看我如何操做。然后他告诉我，他会尽快叫我来上班，尽管他现在没有事情让我做。然后他就和布雷福德攀谈起来，他把他从来没有见过面的老人布雷福德当做了镇上对他一片善心的人。他讲了他目前的经营情况和未来的计划。但是布雷福德没有告诉他他是镇上另一家印刷所老板的父亲。当凯默说他不久就可以拿到本城绝大多数生意的时候，布雷福德就巧妙地问了几个问题，他说他对凯默的话表示怀疑，凯默就对他解释了一通，他告诉了布雷福德他的靠山是谁，他打算采用什么方式开展工作。我站在旁边听了他们所有的谈话，立即可以看出他们两个一个是生手一个老滑头。布雷福德把我留给凯默就走了。当我告诉凯默布雷福德是谁的时候，他大吃了一惊。
7我发现，凯默的印刷厂里只有一台老式的印刷机和一套旧的小号英文铅字。这个时候他正在用那套铅字排印前面讲到的阿奎那·罗斯的《挽歌》。罗斯是个聪明的年轻人，具有高尚的品格，在镇上受人尊重，他是议会秘书。同时，他也是个不错的诗人。凯默自己也写诗，但是写的相当平常。不应该说他在写诗，他只是把自己的思想直接用铅字排印出来而已。由于没有稿子，只有两盘活铅字，而《挽歌》有可能要所有的铅字，所以没有人可以帮上他的忙。我努力把他的印刷机整理了一下，那个机器他还没有用过，他对那个东西一窍不通。这样那个机器就可以印刷了，我答应等他那个《挽歌》一排好我就来印刷。我回到了布雷福德的家里，他暂时给我安排了些杂活干，我在那里住和吃。几天以后，凯默叫人找我回去印刷《挽歌》。现在，他又弄到了另外两只活字盘，并且有本册子要重印。他就叫我来干活了。
8我发现这两位印刷店的老板对印刷业并不在行。布雷福德并没有受过这方面的训练，他基本上是个文盲。对于凯默，他倒有些学问，但他只会排字而不知道印刷。他是法国先知派的教徒，能够和他们一样热情和激动。那个时候，他并不是特别信仰某一宗教，他每样都信一点，以便随机应变。他对世间人情世故完全不懂。后来，我还发现，在他的性格里有种流氓气。他不喜欢我在他那里工作却在布雷福德那里住。事实上，他有间屋子，但却没有家具，所以他没有办法安排我住宿。但他安排我住在我在前面提到过的里德先生处。这个时候，我的衣物已经运过来了，我把自己打扮了一下，在里德小姐的眼中我的外表比她第一次看见我在街上吃面包的时候体面多了。
9我现在开始和镇上的一些年轻人有了来往。那都是喜欢读书的年轻人，晚上和他们一起度过是很开心的。由于我的勤劳和节约，我还存了一笔钱。我生活得很开心，我希望没有人知道我住在那里，我尽量去忘掉波士顿。当然，我的朋友柯林斯除外，我在写信给他的时候叫他替我保密。但是，一件偶然发生的事情使我回到了波士顿，这比我原来意料的早多了。我有一个叫罗伯特·霍姆斯的姐夫，他是一艘单桅帆船的船长，在波士顿和特拉华之间开船做生意。他在离费城40英里的纽卡斯尔听说了我所在的地方，就给我写了一封信，十分有诚意地劝我回去。他说在我突然离开波士顿出走以后，我波士顿的朋友都很挂念我，他还向我保证了大家对我是好意的，如果我回去的话，一切都会按照我的意思安排。我写了封回信给他，感谢他的劝告。我详细地告诉了他我离开波士顿的理由，这样他就不会认为我离开波士顿像他原来想象的那样没有理由。
10威廉·基思爵士，是这个州的州长，他那个时候正在纽卡斯尔。当罗伯特·霍姆斯船长，我的姐夫接到我的信的时候，他正和州长在一起，他同威廉·基思爵士谈起了我，还把我的信递给他看。州长看了我的信，当姐夫告诉他我的年龄时，他似乎很吃惊。他说，我看起来是个前程似锦的人，应该给予鼓励。他说费城的印刷业水平很低，如果我在费城开业我肯定可以成功。他说，他愿意为我招揽公家的生意，并在其它方面就他能力所及帮助我。这些话是姐夫后来在波士顿告诉我的，但我当时对此一无所知。有一天，当我和凯默在窗户旁边做事的时候，我们看到了州长和另一位绅士（后来知道是纽卡斯尔的弗兰奇上校），他们穿着精致的衣服穿过街道，向印刷所而来，还听到了他们到门口的声音。
11凯默以为是找他的，连忙匆匆下楼。但是州长却打听我的事情，并且走上楼来，用一种我还没有很习惯的礼貌对我夸奖了一通，并说他希望认识我。他还责怪我刚来这里的时候为什么不去见他。他还要把我带去酒馆，他说他正要和弗兰奇上校一起去那里，去品尝一下那里的上好的白葡萄酒。我是受宠若惊，凯默却是呆若木鸡。但我还是和州长、弗兰奇上校一道去了酒馆，就在第三街街角那里。我们边喝边谈，他建议我创办自己的印刷厂，并说成功的希望很大，他和弗兰奇上校都向我保证，要用他们自己的势力和影响为我招揽军政两方面的生意。当我说我不知道我父亲在这方面会不会帮助我的时候，威廉·基思爵士说他会给我父亲写封信，在信里他会阐述我计划的优势所在，他相信他一定可以说服我父亲。事情就这样决定了，我将带着他写给父亲的信，搭乘第一班船回波士顿。在这之前，这件事情还要保密，我向往常一样回到凯默那里工作。州长现在经常邀我一起吃饭，用一种异常和蔼、随便、友好的态度和我交谈，那对我真是一种莫大的荣幸。
12大概在1724年的4月底，有船去波士顿。我说要去看我的朋友而离开了凯默。州长给了我一封很厚的信，他在信中对我父亲说了我很多好话。他在信中极力推荐我在费城开办印刷厂，说这一事业必能使我有个远大前程。我们的船在开入海湾的时候碰上了浅滩，船漏水了。外面波涛汹涌，我们得不停地抽水，我也轮班抽水。但是，大概经过了两个星期以后，我们平安地抵达了波士顿。我离开家已经有七个月了，我的朋友都不知道我到哪里去了。霍姆斯还没有回来，也没有写信谈我的情况。我的不期而归让全家大吃一惊。所有的人都很高兴我的归来，非常欢迎我，除了哥哥。我去他的印刷所看他，那个时候我比在他那儿工作的时候穿的更考究，我穿一身笔挺时髦的西装，口袋里还挂了一只表，身上还有差不多5英镑银币。哥哥勉强接见了我，他把我上下打量了一番，又去做他的事情了。
13印刷所里的工人都好奇地问我到哪里去了，那个地方怎么样，我喜欢不喜欢那个地方。我对那个地方大加赞扬，我说我在那里过得很开心，并表示了我将回那个地方的强烈愿望。他们之中有人问那个地方的钱是什么样子的，我掏出一把银币来，在他们面前展开。这种银币是他们从来没有见过的奇观，因为波士顿只用纸币。然后我逮住一个机会让他们看我的表，最后，我送了他们一点钱买酒喝就走了。那个时候，哥哥的脸色还是很阴沉和闷闷不乐。我的这次拜访让他很不高兴，尽管母亲后来劝我们重归于好，希望我们以后像兄弟那样相处，不过他说我在其他人面前当众侮辱他，他决不会忘记也决不会原谅我。但是，在这一点上，他误会了我。
14当父亲接到州长的信的时候，他显然很吃惊。但他好几天都没有向我提到那件事情。当霍姆斯姐夫回来的时候，父亲把这封信给他看。父亲问他是否知道威廉·基思爵士，他是个什么样的人。父亲还说威廉·基思一定是个考虑不周的人，他竟然让一个还要三年才成年的小孩子去创业。霍姆斯姐夫说他很赞成这个计划，但我父亲明白那个计划并不恰当，最后，他断然拒绝了。随后父亲写了封措辞委婉的信给威廉·基思爵士，感谢他对我的赞助和好意，但他拒绝资助我建立印刷厂，因为他觉得我还太年轻，他不能相信我能管理这样一个需要如此巨额资金建立的一个重要企业。
15我的朋友柯林斯那个时候是邮局的一个办事员，他听了我在新地方的事情很高兴。他也决定去那里。当我还在等父亲的决定的时候，他先走一步了。他从陆路去的罗德岛。他把他大量的数学和自然哲学的书留了下来，叫我带着一起到纽约去。他说他会在那里等我。
16父亲尽管不赞成威廉·基思爵士的建议，但他很高兴我能从当地如此有声望的人那里得到这样一封赞赏有加的信。他对我在这么短的时间内，凭自己的能力把自己打扮得这样体面感到很欣慰，因此，当他看到我和哥哥不可能在一起做事的时候，他就同意我返回费城。同时，父亲要我尊重那里的人，尽力得到人们的尊重，不要去毁谤和诋毁别人。他认为我那方面的倾向很严重。他还告诉我要勤奋工作，俭以生活，这样到21岁的就可以有积蓄开办自己的印刷厂了。那个时候，如果我还有所不足，他会帮助我的。这就是从父亲那里得到的全部东西，还有标志着父亲和母亲爱子之心的一些小礼物。带着他们的祝福和赞许，我登上了船前去纽约。
17我们乘坐的单桅帆船停靠在罗德岛的新港后，我去拜访了约翰哥哥。他已经结婚并在那里住了几年了。他对我很热情，一直对我很爱护。他有位朋友叫佛农，有人欠他35英镑，那人就住在宾西法尼亚州，哥哥要希望我代佛农收这笔债，并代为保管，直到我接到通知告诉我怎么汇给他为止。然后，哥哥就给了我一张单子。这件事情后来带给我很多不安。
18在新港，又上了很多去纽约的乘客。其中，有两位年轻的妇女和一位严肃但精明、像管家婆似的教友会妇女，还有她们的仆人。我对那妇人很有礼貌，乐意为她们帮点小忙。我想这给她留下了好印象，因此，当她看到我和两个年轻女子的关系一天比一天热，她们好像也在鼓励这种情况发生的时候。她就把我拉到一边对我说：“年轻人，我很担心你。你没有朋友在身边，好像对这个世道了解也不深，不知道一些人对年轻人所设的圈套。相信我，这两个女子不是什么好人，这我可以从她们的举止看出来。如果你不当心的话，她们就会陷害你。你根本不认识她们，我劝你还是不要和她们来往。我这样做都是为了你的安全，是出于好意的。”我开始并不相信那两个年轻女子如妇人说的那样坏。她就提醒我她观察到的她们的一些可疑的言行和举止，这些我都没有注意到。现在想来，妇人说的都是对的。我感谢她对我的忠告，并且表示会按她讲的去做。当船到达纽约的时候，那两个女子邀请我去拜访她们，并告诉了我她的住处，我没有答应。幸亏我没有去，第二天，船主就丢了一把银勺子和一些其它的东西，这些东西是从舱房里被偷走的。船主知道那两个女人是妓女，就领了搜查令去搜她们的住所，结果找到了失窃的东西，小偷也受到了处罚。这次，船在途中幸运地避开了暗礁，但在我看来，我能避开这两个妓女对我的意义更重大。
19在纽约，我找到了柯林斯，他比我先到几天。我们从孩提时代开始就是好朋友。我们经常一块儿读书，但他看书和学习的时间比我多，他还是个数学天才，远比我厉害。当我还在波士顿的时候，我有空就和他呆在一起聊天。他从来不喝酒，头脑清醒，还相当勤奋，深得一些牧师和绅士的尊敬。他看来是一个很有前途的人。但是，在我离开波士顿的日子里，他染上了喝白兰地的恶习。我从他本人和其他人那里得知，当他到纽约以后就天天喝得醉熏熏的，举止行动十分古怪。他还赌博，输光了自己的钱，以至于我不得不替他付房租，和负责他到费城的路费以及他在费城的生活费，这对我来说是个极大的麻烦。
20那个时候纽约的州长是伯内特（伯内特主教的儿子），他听船长说他的旅客中有个年轻人带了很多书籍，他就要求见见我。这样我就去见他了。如果柯林斯没有喝醉的话，我会带他一起去的。州长很热情地接待了我，并且领我参观了他的图书馆。那个图书馆真大啊。我们针对书和他们的作者谈了很多。这使我获得了州长的青睐。对我这样一个穷小子来说，这是十分让人激动的。
21我们继续前往费城。在路上的时候，我收到了别人欠佛农的钱。如果没有那笔钱的话，我们是不可能完成我们的旅程的。柯林斯希望在某地当个会计，不知道别人是从他的呼吸还是从他的举止中知道他是个酒鬼，所以尽管他有推荐信，但他还是没有找到工作。他继续和我吃住在一起，由我付帐。当他知道我有佛农的钱以后，他就不断地向我借。他还承诺等他一找到工作就还钱给我。最后，他借了那么多，以至于我都发愁，如果人家叫我汇钱过去的时候我应该怎么办才好。
22他继续喝酒，为这件事情我们经常吵架。因为他只要有点醉，人就变得很暴躁。有一次，当他和几个年轻人在特拉华州一块划船玩的时候，轮到他划，他却不划。他说：“你们得把我划到我家里去。”我说：“我们决不替你划。”他就说：“你们必须得划，要不就在水上过夜。你们看着办吧。”“让我们划吧。这没有什么大不了的。”其他人就说。
23但是他的行为让我很生气，我坚决不同意。所以他发誓要我划，要不然他就把我扔到河里去。然后他就站到横板上，看着我。当他跑过来抓我的时候，我就伸手抓住他的腿，然后站起来，把他头朝下扔到水里去了。我知道他游泳技术很好，所以一点都不在意他。所以，在他靠近船帮的时候，我们就连划几下，让他没有办法靠近船。每当他靠近的时候，我们就一边问他划不划船，一边连划几下让船从他身边滑过。他气的都快死了，固执得死也不答应划。后来，看他有点累了我们就把他捞了上来。晚上，我们把浑身湿淋淋的他送回了家。这以后，我们之间难得有一句好话。后来，一位来自印度群岛的船长受一个叫巴巴多斯的绅士的委托，要给他的儿子找有一位老师，他偶然碰到了柯林斯，就答应送柯林斯去巴巴多斯那里。柯林斯走的时候答应他一领到钱就汇给我以还清债务。但从这以后，我就一直没有他的音信。
24动用佛农的钱是我一生中所犯下的重大错误之一。这件事情表明，父亲认为我还年轻，不能管理重要企业的判断是正确的。但是，当威廉·基思爵士读到我父亲给他的信的时候，他说父亲太谨慎了。他说，人不能一概而论，谨慎不一定和年龄相生相伴。年轻人并不一定就不谨慎。他说：“既然他不帮助你。”“那我就来帮你。你需要从英国买什么东西，给我张清单，我去买。你以后有能力再还我。我决定要让本地有一家好的印刷厂。我相信你一定可以成功的。”他说这些话的时候，态度很诚恳，我丝毫不怀疑他说的话。我迄今为止一直把我想在费城开印刷厂的秘密藏在心里。如果某个深知州长为人的朋友知道我把希望寄托在他的身上的话，他们肯定会告诉我州长这个人并不可靠。后来，我才听别人说，他这个人从来都是光许愿，而从不去做的。但我根本没有要他帮助我，我怎么能认为他的慷慨帮助是没有诚意的呢？我相信他是这个世界上最好的人之一。
25我给了他一份开办一个小印刷厂所需物品的清单。照我估计，大概要100英镑。他很高兴，但是问我，要是我能够去英国亲自挑选铅字并检查各种机器的部件是不是更好。“而且，”他又说，“在那个地方，你可以结识一些人，可以在卖书和文具方面与他们建立联系。”我认为这样做是有益处的，就同意了州长的建议。“那么，”他说，“做好准备坐安尼斯号去。”那艘船是那个时候惟一的一艘一年一次往来于伦敦和费城的船只。但是离安尼斯号启程的日子还有几个月，我就继续在凯默那里做事。同时，心中为柯林斯借钱的事情焦虑不安，每天担心佛农叫我汇钱过去。不过，这种事情几年之内都没有发生。
26我想我还忘了告诉你，当我第一次坐船从波士顿去费城的时候，我们的船停靠在布来克岛。旅客们开始捉鳕鱼吃，并且捉了很多。迄今为止，我坚守不吃荤食的信条。这种时候，我和我的老师屈里昂站在一条线上，他认为捉一条鱼就等于杀一次生。因为鱼过去没有，将来也不会伤害我们，所以我们没有正当的理由杀害它们。这些似乎都是很有道理的。但是，在这之前，我是很喜欢吃鱼的，当热气腾腾的鱼刚从炸锅里拿出来的时候，闻起来真香啊！我在爱好和原则之间犹豫了好长时间，直到我想起有人在鱼肚子里发现小鱼的时候。那个时候，我就想，“你可以吃小鱼，我为什么不能吃你啊。”因此，我就痛快地吃了一顿鳕鱼。从那以后，我就和别人一样吃荤，只是偶尔吃素食。做一个有理智的生物是如此方便，它可以为你找到或者建构一个理由去做你心里想做的事情。
27凯默和我相处的很不错，意见也相投，因为他还不知道我要独自开办印刷厂的事情。他一直保持着往日浓厚的热情并且喜欢辩论。因此，我们经常在一起辩论。我经常使用苏格拉底式的辩论术，使用一些看起来显然离我们的辩题很远的问题，但渐渐地把他引入矛盾和困境之中。我用这种方法常常使他上我的圈套。最后，他的谨慎都变的很滑稽了，他总是先问，“你到底想干什么，”然后再回答我再普通不过的问题。但是，这件事情却使他对我的辩论才能有了很高的评价，因此，他很认真地提议我和他一起建立一个新的教派。他负责布道，我负责和对手辩驳。不过，当他向我解释教条的时候，我发现其中一些莫名其妙的东西正是我所反对的，除非我也可以加入点自己的意见或者介绍下我的一些看法。
28凯默留着长长的胡子，因为在摩西法典里说，“不许损毁胡须一角”。也因此才把安息日定在星期六，这两点对他都是必不可少的。这两点我都不喜欢。但是，在他答应不吃荤食的情况下，我可以同意他的那两点。“我怀疑”，他说，“那样的话，身体会吃不消的。”我向他保证，身体可以受得了，而且那样对身体还有更多的好处。他平常都吃的很多，我因此想，那吃得半饱的时候一定很有意思。如果我能陪他的话，他说他可以试一试。我同意了，并且继续了三个月的时间。我们的饮食固定由一个邻居妇人送来。她从我这里拿走一份40种菜肴的菜单，按照不同的时候给我们送来，在这些菜单上没有鱼肉也没有鸡鸭。这种理念那个时候非常适合我，因为那样很便宜，每周每人不会超过18个便士。从那个时候开始，我连续好几个四旬斋都严格按照规则来办，从平常饭到斋饭，从斋饭到平常饭，这种突然的变换没有给我带来一点不适应。因此，我就想，那种所谓的改变要循序渐进的建议没有一点道理。我快乐地过着我的日子，但是可怜的凯默却感到难于忍受，他已经厌倦了这个计划。他一直渴望大吃一顿，所以他就叫了一份烤猪，并邀请我和他的两个女性朋友跟他一起去吃。但烤猪上的太快了，他抵制不了那个诱惑，在我们到之前他就把它吃完了。29这段时间，我连续向里德小姐求了几次爱。我对她很倾慕，我也有理由相信她对我也有相同的情感。但是，她母亲认为我们不用太急躁，因为我们都很年轻，才18岁多一点，我又要进行长途旅行，如果要结婚的话，还是等我回来以后——当我像我所期待的那样建立了自己的事业以后，那样会更加合适一些。也许，她认为我的期待并不像我想象的那样十拿九稳。
30这个时候，我主要的朋友是查尔斯·奥斯本、约瑟夫·沃森和詹姆斯·拉尔夫，他们都是喜欢读书的人。前两个人是镇上著名的公证人查尔斯·布罗格顿的书记，后面那个是一位商店职员。沃森是一个十分诚实正直聪明的年轻人。其他两个人对宗教信仰观念很淡薄，特别是拉尔夫。拉尔夫就像柯林斯那样，老是不能让我安生，给我带来了很多麻烦。奥斯本则是个聪明坦率的人，对朋友真诚友爱，但是，在文学方面他太挑剔了。拉尔夫仪表堂堂，人很聪明，口才相当好，我还从来没有遇到像他这样好口才的人。这两个人都很喜欢诗歌，并开始写些小的作品。星期天的时候，我们4个人经常一起到斯古尔克河附近的小树林里快活地散步，在那里我们轮流朗诵我们的作品给大家听，并谈论我们读过的作品。
31拉尔夫喜欢研究诗，他不怀疑自己能够成为一个杰出的诗人，并且会因此而致富。他认为即使是最优秀的诗人刚开始写诗的时候，也会像他那样有很多瑕疵。奥斯本劝他打消这个念头，他确定拉尔夫没有写诗的天赋，劝告他不要想别的东西，把心思都放到他的本行上去。虽然拉尔夫没有资本，但是凭着拉尔夫的勤奋和本分，他可以先做代理商，然后逐渐地自己开业。我赞成偶然写点诗娱乐一下，同时改进自己的语言风格，除此之外，我没有别的想法。
32为了提高我们的水平，于是大家建议，下一次我们聚会的时候，每人拿出一篇自己的作品，大家相互观摩、批评、改正。由于我们的目的只在于语言和表达方式，大家一致赞成改写赞美诗第18篇，这篇是描写上帝降临的。当我们聚会的日子临近的时候，拉尔夫来找我，告诉我他的诗已经改好了，我告诉他，由于我一直没有空，也没有兴趣，所以我还没有写。然后，他就让我看他的诗，并征求我的意见。我读了一下，对之十分赞赏，在我看来，那真是一首好诗。“现在，”他说：“奥斯本经常说我的作品没有任何长处，由于嫉妒，他总是会把它批得体无完肤。他对你并不嫉妒。因此，我希望，你就把这首诗拿去，就说是你写的。我会装着没有时间，所以没有写。我们来看下他会说什么？”我同意了他的请求，就立即重抄了一遍，这样看起来就是我写的了。
33我们聚会的时候到了。先读到沃森的作品，虽然里面有些好句，但瑕疵更多。然后就读到奥斯本的诗，比沃森的好多了。拉尔夫对它们做了个公正的评论，既批评了它们的不足之处，也称赞了它们的优点所在。然后他说他自己没有写。我很扭捏，好像请求他们放我一马的样子，声称时间不够等等，但他们都不允许我有任何理由，一定要我把诗拿出来。所以，我就把拉尔夫的诗拿出来读了一遍，并且重复了一遍。沃森和奥斯本甘拜下风，对之称赞不已。拉尔夫对之作了些批评，并建议做一些修改，但我却对之进行了辩护。奥斯本这个时候又跳出来反对拉尔夫，说拉尔夫的评论和他的诗一样好不了多少。于是拉尔夫就不再争辩。在他们一起回家的路上，奥斯本表达了他仍然想对我的诗表示赞赏，并且说他当着我的面不好这样说，以免我觉得他在奉承我。“但是，谁能想到”，他说，“富兰克林能写出这么好的诗来，这样绘声绘色，刚强有力，热情奔放。他甚至做的比原诗还好，他平常讲话的时候好像并不会用词，笨嘴拙舌的。天啊，他的诗写的太好了！”当我们第二次聚会的时候，拉尔夫说出了我们对奥斯本设的陷阱，大家笑了奥斯本一阵子。
34这件事情坚定了拉尔夫做一名诗人的决心。我尽了自己最大的努力去阻止他，但是他不听，一直到波普的出现为止。然而，他后来成为了一名非常出色的散文家。我以后还会谈到他。但是，对于其他两个人，我以后可能几乎不会有机会谈到他们了。沃森几年以后就死在了我的怀里，我相当难过，他是我们当中最优秀的。奥斯本去了西印度群岛，在那里，他成了很有名的律师并且赚了很多钱，但他也在正当年轻的时候去世了。我们两个曾经有过庄严的约定，如果谁先死的话，如果可能，他应该对对方做个友情访问，告诉他他在那个世界怎么样，但他却没有遵守他说过的话。
35州长好像很愿意和我在一起，他经常请我到他家里去做客。帮助我开业是一个必谈的话题。他除了要给我向银行贷款的信用证，以便我可以购买印刷机、铅字和纸张等等，还说要给我写一些介绍信给他的朋友们。他好几次说好了写好那些信的日期，叫我去拿。但每次我去的时候，他就定了一个更远的日子。就这样，一直推到了船开的时候——这个船期也是推了几次才定下来的。当我前去向他告别并取信的时候，他的秘书，巴德博士出来对我说，州长正在忙着写那封信，他会在开船前赶到纽卡斯尔把信交给我。
36拉尔夫，尽管他已经结婚了，并且有了一个小孩，但他还是决定和我一起去。我认为他是想建立一种商业联系，并且拿点佣金。不过我后来发现，由于他和他妻子关系不好，他就想把妻子甩到这里，自己不再回来了。我辞别了自己的朋友们，并且和里德小姐进行了一番盟誓，然后坐船离开了费城。当船在纽卡斯尔停靠的时候，州长果然在那里。但是，当我去他住处的时候，他并没有见我，他的秘书出来了。他秘书说他正在做一项非常重要的公务，不过会把信送到船上来的，并衷心祝愿我一路顺风等等。我有点疑惑地回到船上，但还没有怀疑什么。
37安德鲁·汉密儿顿先生是费城一位著名的律师，他和他的儿子跟我同船旅行。还有教友会商人德纳姆先生。奥奈和拉塞尔先生也在，他们是马里兰一家铁厂的老板。他们订了头等舱。我和拉尔夫不得不坐三等舱，那里没有人认识我们，大家都把我们当做普通人。但是，安德鲁·汉密儿顿先生和他的儿子（名字叫詹姆斯，他后来当了州长），从纽卡斯尔回费城了。汉密儿顿先生被人用重金请去给一艘被逮住的船辩护。正当我们要启程的时候，弗伦奇上校到船上来了，他对我们的热情关注被大家看到了，那些绅士们就邀请我们去头等舱，因为正好那里空出了两个位子来。所以，我们就到头等舱去了。
38我知道弗伦奇上校上船的时候把州长写的信带来了，我就请船长把那些委托我管的信给我。船长说所有的信都放在一起，他这个时候没有办法挑出来。但是，在船到达伦敦前，他会给我机会让我把那些信分拣出来。我因此就安心了。我们的旅行在继续进行。船舱里的人们很友善，加之安德鲁·汉密儿顿先生留下的东西，因此我们的东西很丰富，生活得很美好。在这次旅行中，德纳姆先生和我结下了深厚的友谊，我们一直保持着这种友情。但是，从另一方面来讲，这次旅行又是令人不愉快的，因为天气实在太糟糕了。
39当我们到达英吉利海峡的时候，船长实现了他的允诺，他让我在信包里找州长写的信。但由我转交的信一封都没有找到。我按他的笔迹找出了六七封信，我想那可能是州长答应为我写的。尤其是其中一封写给皇家印刷所巴斯克特的信和另外一封给一个文具商的信。我们在1724年12月24日抵达伦敦，我先拜访了那个离我近的文具商，并且递上了基思州长的信。他说：“我不知道有这样一个人。”然后他就打开了信。“哦，原来是里德尔斯登写的。我最近发现这个人完全是个大骗子，我将断绝和他的来往，并且拒绝收受他的任何来信。”然后，他就把信退回到我手上，转过身去招待他的其他顾客。我这才发现这些信不是州长写的。经过回忆和比较前后的事实情况，我开始怀疑州长的诚意了。我找到朋友德纳姆，把这件事情的情况讲给他听。他告诉了我基思的为人，他说基思绝对不可能给你写信。了解他的人都不会对他有丝毫的信任。他对基思会给我信用证的想法一笑了之，他说，他根本没有信用可给。当我对他说我对日后怎么办表示担忧的时候，他建议我尽力在我这一行找个工作。他说：“就在这里的印刷行业做，你会得到提高的。这样，当你以后返回新大陆开印刷厂就会更好些。”
40我们两个人同那个文具商一样恰巧都知道里德尔斯登律师是个大流氓。他曾经唆使里德的父亲和他签了份合同，几乎让里德的父亲破产。从这封信看来，似乎有一个不利于汉密儿顿先生的秘密计划正在进行。他们因为汉密儿顿是和我们一起来英国的，基思和里德尔斯登也牵涉到里面去了。德纳姆和汉密儿顿是朋友，他觉得应该让汉密儿顿知道这件事情。因此，当汉密儿顿来英国不久，部分由于对基思和里德尔斯登的憎恶，部分由于对汉密儿顿的好感，我拜访了他，并且把信给了他。这封信对他很重要，他很诚恳地感谢了我。从那个时候开始，我们成为了朋友，后来他在许多方面对我帮助很大。
41但是，我们怎么会想到一个州长会玩弄这种可怜的把戏，这样欺骗一个可怜无知的孩子。原来他想取悦大家，但又没有什么好给的，所以就给个希望。这已经成为他的习惯了。除此之外，他倒是个聪明有智慧的人。他还是个好作家，人民的好州长，尽管他有的时候对有钱的选民的意思不理不睬。在他任期内，他制定通过了好几部良法。
42拉尔夫和我形影不离。我们一起住在小不列颠，每星期的租金是3先令6便士，这是我们当时所能支付的最高租金。拉尔夫找到了他的几个亲戚，但是他们都很穷，没有能力帮助他。拉尔夫这个时候让我知道了他想留在伦敦，不再回费城的意思。他没有带钱来，他能筹到的钱都已经花在路上了。我有15块西班牙金币，所以他边找工作边不时地向我借点钱以维持生活。他先是想法子进入剧院，他觉得自己当个演员没有问题，但是那个剧院的老板威尔克斯，觉得他不可能在那方面有所成就，所以就坦率地告诉他不要想吃这碗饭。然后，他就找佩特罗斯特街的出版商罗伯茨谈了谈，他希望在一定条件下为他那份类似《旁观者》的周刊撰稿，但是罗伯茨没有答应那些条件。随后，他又试图想当个作家助手，替出版社或者法学会的律师抄抄写写什么的，但人家那里不缺人。
43我很快就在帕尔默印刷所找到了工作。那是在巴塞洛谬巷口的一家有名的印刷所。我在那里工作了将近一年。我很勤快，但我把收入的很大一部分花在和拉尔夫看戏以及其它娱乐方面。我原来的西班牙金币也花掉了。现在我们只能勉强糊口。拉尔夫好像全然忘掉了他的妻子和孩子，至于我，某种程度上也忘记了我对里德小姐的山盟海誓。我只写过一封信，我在信里告诉她我不太可能马上回去。那是我这一生铸成的另一大错，如果，生活可以重来的话，我会改正的。事实上，我们两个的开支这么大，我们一直没凑够回去的路费。
44在帕尔默印刷所，他们指定我给沃拉斯顿的《自然宗教》第二版排版。我觉得，沃拉斯顿的论证并不很充分。因此，我就写了一篇简短的哲学文章对之做了些评论。那篇文章的题目是《论自由与贫困，快乐与痛苦》。我把这篇短文献给我的朋友拉尔夫，并印了一些。这使帕尔默先生认为我值得尊重，他把我当成了一个聪明有才华的人，虽然他对我其中的一些理论提出了严肃的批评，他甚至有些厌恶它们。我印这本小册子又是一个错误。当我住在小不列颠的时候，我认识了一个书商，他的名字叫威尔科克斯，他的书店就在隔壁。他收集了很多旧书，那个时候还没有对外开放的图书馆。我们达成了一个协议，在合理条件下，具体的条件我已经忘了，我可以借走他的任何一本书，然后再归还。它对我真是一个好事情，我尽量利用它。
45我的那本小册子不知道通过什么方式被一个叫做莱昂斯的外科医生看到了，他是《人类判断能力的确定性》的作者，我们就这样认识了。他很看重我，经常来找我谈论这些话题。他把我带到平价街的霍恩斯，那是一家淡啤酒馆。在那里，他把我介绍给《蜜蜂的童话》的作者曼德威博士。曼德威博士在那里开了一家俱乐部，他是俱乐部的核心人物，他是一个非常风趣幽默的家伙。莱昂斯还把我介绍给巴特咖啡屋的佩姆顿博士。佩姆顿博士答应什么时候方便的话会给我机会让我见萨克·牛顿爵士。我很想有那一天，但那一天从来没有到来。
46我从新大陆带了几件珍品，其中一件是用石棉制成的钱包，那是用火锻炼而成的。汉斯·斯隆爵士听说我有这样的钱包，就来拜访我，并且邀请我去布鲁斯伯广场的家里，让我看他收藏的珍品，他还劝我把我的钱包转让给他，成为他的收藏品中的一部分，并付给我一笔可观的钱来买它。
47在我们住的那个地方还有个年轻的女子住在那里，我想她是在修道院那里有个铺子。她受过良好的教育，通情达理，善解人意，活泼开朗，善于交谈。在晚上的时候，拉尔夫读剧本给她听，他们的关系逐渐亲密起来。她另租了地方住，拉尔夫也跟着去了。他们同居了一段日子，但拉尔夫仍然没有找到工作，而她的收入又不够维持他们和她的孩子的生活。所以，拉尔夫决心离开伦敦，试着去乡村学校找工作。他想他是能够胜任教师一职的，因为他写得一手好字，数学和会计都很不错。但是，他总觉得那是屈就。他觉得自己将来一定会时来运转，那个时候，他不想别人知道他曾经做过这么卑贱的工作，所以他改了个名字，叫“富兰克林”，以表示对我的尊重。因为，不久以后我就收到他的来信，他告诉我他在一个小村子里教书。我想是在伯克村。在那里他教10到12个小孩子，每周薪金6便士。他还叫我照顾Ｔ夫人，并且希望我写信给他，收信人是那个地方的老师富兰克林。
48他继续不断地给我写信，寄来他那个时候正在创作的一篇长篇叙事诗，并且希望我批评指正。我不时地给他一点建议，但更多的时候是劝他不要再在这条路上走了。那个时候正好班扬的讽刺诗出版了，我就抄了诗的大部分给他，那首诗强烈地讽刺了那些没有希望成功的年轻人愚蠢地追求诗神缪斯的行为。但我做的这些都是徒劳无功的，他的诗仍然被不断地寄来。同时，Ｔ夫人由于拉尔夫的关系失去了她的工作和朋友，生活困苦，经常来找我，借走我自己所能节省的钱。我逐渐喜欢和她在一起，而且那个时候由于没有宗教的束缚，我觉得自己在她心里很重要，就想和她有亲昵的行为，但她愤怒地拒绝了我（又一个错误），并且把我的行为告诉了拉尔夫。这就使得我和拉尔夫之间产生了隔阂。当拉尔夫回到伦敦的时候，他告诉我，我们之间的恩惠从此一笔勾销。我也就知道我借给他的钱和为他预付的钱都一去不复还了。但是，那也不重要，反正他也没有还的能力。失去了拉尔夫的友谊，我倒有种如释重负的感觉。现在，我开始考虑存点钱。为了得到一个更好的工作，我离开了帕尔默印刷所，来到了瓦茨印刷所，就在林肯酒店不远的地方，是一家比帕尔默印刷所更大的印刷所。我在那里一直工作到我离开伦敦。
49我刚进入瓦茨印刷所的时候是做的印刷工作，我觉得在这里有在新大陆工作的时候所没有的那种体力锻炼。在这里，印刷和排字是在一起的。我只喝水，其他的人，大概接近50个，他们都是酒鬼。有的时候，我可以每一只手拿一排铅字上下楼梯，但是，其他的人则需要用两只手拿一排铅字。他们对这和其它类似的事情感到很惊奇。我这个喝水的美洲人——他们是这样称呼我的，竟然比他们这些喝浓稠啤酒的人还要强壮有力。有一个经常来给我们印刷所送啤酒的男孩。和我一起印刷的一个人，他每天早饭前喝1品脱啤酒，早餐的时候和着面包与奶酪喝1品脱啤酒，早饭和午饭间喝1品脱啤酒，午饭喝1品脱啤酒，下午大概6点钟的时候又喝1品脱啤酒，做完工作后再喝1品脱啤酒。我觉得那是很恶心的习惯，但他却觉得这些都是必须的。因为他觉得，喝浓啤酒才有力量干活。我尽力想让他相信，啤酒在身体中产生的力量只跟酿酒时溶于水中的谷物和大麦成正比。在1便士的面包中所含的面粉更多，因此，如果他吃1便士的面包，再喝1品脱的水，那会比他喝1夸脱的啤酒所产生的力量更大。但是，无论我怎样说，他都照喝他的啤酒。每个周末的时候，他都要从他的工资中拿出4、5先令来付他那个泥浆水。这笔费用我是不用掏的，这些可怜的家伙总是让别的东西主宰。
50几个星期以后，瓦茨让我去排字间工作，就这样，我离开了印刷间。排字的工人却要我支付一笔5先令的啤酒费，这笔钱我在印刷间的时候就付过了，我觉得那是一种敲诈。老板也这样认为，他不让我付这笔钱。我坚持了两三个星期，他们想开除我的会籍，并在私下里搞了许多恶作剧。比如，当我离开一会儿的时候，我的铅字就会被弄乱，页码也会被改变。所以这些都被解释为印刷所里的魔鬼作祟。他们说，那些没有得到印刷所里的人认可的人就会受到鬼魂的作弄，即使他有老板的保护。我被迫服从，并答应付钱。这件事情让我知道了得罪和你朝夕相处的人是很愚蠢的。
51现在我终于能和他们和睦相处了，并且很快对他们产生了巨大影响。我建议对印刷的规矩做一些合理的改动，并且驳倒了所有的反对意见。以我为榜样，许多工人吃早餐的时候不再把啤酒、奶酪和面包混在一起吃。因为他们发现和我一样——吃隔壁邻居提供的一大碗热粥，洒上胡椒粉，把面包弄碎，然后涂上点牛油——这些东西的价格等于1品脱啤酒的价格，也就是3.5便士。这样的早餐既便宜又吃的好，还可以保持头脑清醒。那些仍然整天酗酒的人，由于欠钱没有还，没有了信用，酒店就不赊酒给他们了，他们就来找我借钱，用他们的话来说，他们已经走投无路了。每到星期六的晚上，我就等着发工资，收回我借给他们的钱，有的时候一个星期有30先令之多。同时，他们也认为我是一个很幽默的人，很会讲话。他们因此很敬重我。我从来不缺勤（因为我从来不用请假做礼拜，我不是教徒），老板也因此很喜欢我。由于我做事的速度很快，老板总是把急件交给我做，待遇经常要高一点。这样，我的生活就过得越来越舒适了。
Part 2
1I have been the more particular in this description of my journey, and shall be so of my first entry into that city, that you may in your mind compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made there. I was in my working dress, my best cloaths being to come round by sea. I was dirty from my journey; my pockets were stuff'd out with shirts and stockings, and I knew no soul nor where to look for lodging. I was fatigued with travelling, rowing, and want of rest, I was very hungry; and my whole stock of cash consisted of a Dutch dollar, and about a shilling in copper. The latter I gave the people of the boat for my passage, who at first refus'd it, on account of my rowing; but I insisted on their taking it. A man being sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps thro' fear of being thought to have but little.
2Then I walked up the street, gazing about till near the market-house I met a boy with bread. I had made many a meal on bread, and, inquiring where he got it, I went immediately to the baker's he directed me to, in Second-street, and ask'd for bisket, intending such as we had in Boston; but they, it seems, were not made in Philadelphia. Then I asked for a three-penny loaf, and was told they had none such. So not considering or knowing the difference of money, and the greater cheapness nor the names of his bread, I made him give me three-penny worth of any sort. He gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls. I was surpriz'd at the quantity, but took it, and, having no room in my pockets, walk'd off with a roll under each arm, and eating the other. Thus I went up Market-street as far as Fourth-street, passing by the door of Mr. Read, my future wife's father; when she, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous appearance. Then I turned and went down Chestnut-street and part of Walnut-street, eating my roll all the way, and, corning round, found myself again at Market-street wharf, near the boat I came in, to which I went for a draught of the river water; and, being filled with one of my rolls, gave the other two to a woman and her child that came down the river in the boat with us, and were waiting to go farther.
3Thus refreshed, I walked again up the street, which by this time had many clean-dressed people in it, who were all walking the same way. I joined them, and thereby was led into the great meeting-house of the Quakers near the market. I sat down among them, and, after looking round awhile and hearing nothing said, being very drowsy thro' labor and want of rest the preceding night, I fell fast asleep, and continued so till the meeting broke up, when one was kind enough to rouse me. This was, therefore, the first house I was in, or slept in, in Philadelphia.
4Walking down again toward the river, and, looking in the faces of people, I met a young Quaker man, whose countenance I lik'd, and, accosting him, requested he would tell me where a stranger could get lodging. We were then near the sign of the Three Mariners. "Here," says he, "is one place that entertains strangers, but it is not a reputable house; if thee wilt walk with me, I'll show thee a better." He brought me to the Crooked Billet in Water-street. Here I got a dinner; and, while I was eating it, several sly questions were asked me, as it seemed to be suspected from my youth and appearance, that I might be some runaway.
5After dinner, my sleepiness return'd, and being shown to a bed, I lay down without undressing, and slept till six in the evening, was call'd to supper, went to bed again very early, and slept soundly till next morning. Then I made myself as tidy as I could, and went to Andrew Bradford the printer's. I found in the shop the old man his father, whom I had seen at New York, and who, travelling on horseback, had got to Philadelphia before me. He introduc'd me to his son, who receiv'd me civilly, gave me a breakfast, but told me he did not at present want a hand, being lately suppli'd with one; but there was another printer in town, lately set up, one Keimer, who, perhaps, might employ me; if not, I should be welcome to lodge at his house, and he would give me a little work to do now and then till fuller business should offer.
6The old gentleman said he would go with me to the new printer; and when we found him, "Neighbor," says Bradford, "I have brought to see you a young man of your business; perhaps you may want such a one." He ask'd me a few questions, put a composing stick in my hand to see how I work'd, and then said he would employ me soon, though he had just then nothing for me to do; and, taking old Bradford, whom he had never seen before, to be one of the town's people that had a good will for him, enter'd into a conversation on his present undertaking and projects; while Bradford, not discovering that he was the other printer's father, on Keimer's saying he expected soon to get the greatest part of the business into his own hands, drew him on by artful questions, and starting little doubts, to explain all his views, what interests he reli'd on, and in what manner he intended to proceed. I, who stood by and heard all, saw immediately that one of them was a crafty old sophister, and the other a mere novice. Bradford left me with Keimer, who was greatly surpris'd when I told him who the old man was.
7Keimer's printing-house, I found, consisted of an old shatter'd press, and one small, worn-out font of English which he was then using himself, composing an Elegy on Aquila Rose, before mentioned, an ingenious young man, of excellent character, much respected in the town, clerk of the Assembly, and a pretty poet. Keimer made verses too, but very indifferently. He could not be said to write them, for his manner was to compose them in the types directly out of his head. So there being no copy, but one pair of cases, and the Elegy likely to require all the letter, no one could help him. I endeavor'd to put his press (which he had not yet us'd, and of which he understood nothing) into order fit to be work'd with; and, promising to come and print off his Elegy as soon as he should have got it ready, I return'd to Bradford's, who gave me a little job to do for the present, and there I lodged and dieted, A few days after, Keimer sent for me to print off the Elegy. And now he had got another pair of cases, and a pamphlet to reprint, on which he set me to work.
8These two printers I found poorly qualified for their business. Bradford had not been bred to it, and was very illiterate; and Keimer, tho' something of a scholar, was a mere compositor, knowing nothing of presswork. He had been one of the French prophets, and could act their enthusiastic agitations. At this time he did not profess any particular religion, but something of all on occasion; was very ignorant of the world, and had, as I afterward found, a good deal of the knave in his composition. He did not like my lodging at Bradford's while I work'd with him. He had a house, indeed, but without furniture, so he could not lodge me; but he got me a lodging at Mr. Read's, before mentioned, who was the owner of his house; and, my chest and clothes being come by this time, I made rather a more respectable appearance in the eyes of Miss Read than I had done when she first happen'd to see me eating my roll in the street.
9I began now to have some acquaintance among the young people of the town, that were lovers of reading, with whom I spent my evenings very pleasantly; and gaining money by my industry and frugality, I lived very agreeably, forgetting Boston as much as I could, and not desiring that any there should know where I resided, except my friend Collins, who was in my secret, and kept it when I wrote to him. At length, an incident happened that sent me back again much sooner than I had intended. I had a brother-in-law, Robert Holmes, master of a sloop that traded between Boston and Delaware. He being at Newcastle, forty miles below Philadelphia, heard there of me, and wrote me a letter mentioning the concern of my friends in Boston at my abrupt departure, assuring me of their good will to me, and that every thing would be accommodated to my mind if I would return, to which he exhorted me very earnestly. I wrote an answer to his letter, thank'd him for his advice, but stated my reasons for quitting Boston fully and in such a light as to convince him I was not so wrong as he had apprehended.
10Sir William Keith, governor of the province, was then at Newcastle, and Captain Holmes, happening to be in company with him when my letter came to hand, spoke to him of me, and show'd him the letter. The governor read it, and seem'd surpris'd when he was told my age. He said I appear'd a young man of promising parts, and therefore should be encouraged; the printers at Philadelphia were wretched ones; and, if I would set up there, he made no doubt I should succeed; for his part, he would procure me the public business, and do me every other service in his power. This my brother-in-law afterwards told me in Boston, but I knew as yet nothing of it; when, one day, Keimer and I being at work together near the window, we saw the governor and another gentleman (which proved to be Colonel French, of Newcastle), finely dress'd, come directly across the street to our house, and heard them at the door.
11Keimer ran down immediately, thinking it a visit to him; but the governor inquir'd for me, came up, and with a condescension of politeness I had been quite unus'd to, made me many compliments, desired to be acquainted with me, blam'd me kindly for not having made myself known to him when I first came to the place, and would have me away with him to the tavern, where he was going with Colonel French to taste, as he said, some excellent Madeira. I was not a little surprised, and Keimer star'd like a pig poison'd. I went, however, with the governor and Colonel French to a tavern, at the corner of Third-street, and over the Madeira he propos'd my setting up my business, laid before me the probabilities of success, and both he and Colonel French assur'd me I should have their interest and influence in procuring the public business of both governments. On my doubting whether my father would assist me in it, Sir William said he would give me a letter to him, in which he would state the advantages, and he did not doubt of prevailing with him. So it was concluded I should return to Boston in the first vessel, with the governor's letter recommending me to my father. In the mean time the intention was to be kept a secret, and I went on working with Keimer as usual, the governor sending for me now and then to dine with him, a very great honor I thought it, and conversing with me in the most affable, familiar, and friendly manner imaginable.
12About the end of April, 1724, a little vessel offer'd for Boston. I took leave of Keimer as going to see my friends. The governor gave me an ample letter, saying many flattering things of me to my father, and strongly recommending the project of my setting up at Philadelphia as a thing that must make my fortune. We struck on a shoal in going down the bay, and sprung a leak; we had a blustering time at sea, and were oblig'd to pump almost continually, at which I took my turn. We arriv'd safe, however, at Boston in about a fortnight. I had been absent seven months, and my friends had heard nothing of me; for my br. Holmes was not yet return'd, and had not written about me. My unexpected appearance surpriz'd the family; all were, however, very glad to see me, and made me welcome, except my brother. I went to see him at his printing-house. I was better dress'd than ever while in his service, having a genteel new suit from head to foot, a watch, and my pockets lin'd with near five pounds sterling in silver. He receiv'd me not very frankly, look'd me all over, and turn'd to his work again.
13The journeymen were inquisitive where I had been, what sort of a country it was, and how I lik'd it. I prais'd it much, the happy life I led in it, expressing strongly my intention of returning to it; and, one of them asking what kind of money we had there, I produc'd a handful of silver, and spread it before them, which was a kind of raree-show they had not been us'd to, paper being the money of Boston. Then I took an opportunity of letting them see my watch; and, lastly (my brother still grum and sullen), I gave them a piece of eight to drink, and took my leave. This visit of mine offended him extreamly; for, when my mother some time after spoke to him of a reconciliation, and of her wishes to see us on good terms together, and that we might live for the future as brothers, he said I had insulted him in such a manner before his people that he could never forget or forgive it. In this, however, he was mistaken.
14My father received the governor's letter with some apparent surprise, but said little of it to me for some days, when Capt. Holmes returning he showed it to him, ask'd him if he knew Keith, and what kind of man he was; adding his opinion that he must be of small discretion to think of setting a boy up in business who wanted yet three years of being at man's estate. Holmes said what he could in favor of the project, but my father was clear in the impropriety of it, and at last gave a flat denial to it. Then he wrote a civil letter to Sir William, thanking him for the patronage he had so kindly offered me, but declining to assist me as yet in setting up, I being, in his opinion, too young to be trusted with the management of a business so important, and for which the preparation must be so expensive.
15My friend and companion Collins, who was a clerk in the post-office, pleas'd with the account I gave him of my new country, determined to go thither also; and, while I waited for my father's determination, he set out before me by land to Rhode Island, leaving his books, which were a pretty collection of mathematicks and natural philosophy, to come with mine and me to New York, where he propos'd to wait for me.
16My father, tho' he did not approve Sir William's proposition, was yet pleas'd that I had been able to obtain so advantageous a character from a person of such note where I had resided, and that I had been so industrious and careful as to equip myself so handsomely in so short a time; therefore, seeing no prospect of an accommodation between my brother and me, he gave his consent to my returning again to Philadelphia, advis'd me to behave respectfully to the people there, endeavor to obtain the general esteem, and avoid lampooning and libeling, to which he thought I had too much inclination; telling me, that by steady industry and a prudent parsimony I might save enough by the time I was one-and-twenty to set me up; and that, if I came near the matter, he would help me out with the rest. This was all I could obtain, except some small gifts as tokens of his and my mother's love, when I embark'd again for New York, now with their approbation and their blessing.
17The sloop putting in at Newport, Rhode Island, I visited my brother John, who had been married and settled there some years. He received me very affectionately, for he always lov'd me. A friend of his, one Vernon, having some money due to him in Pensilvania, about thirty-five pounds currency, desired I would receive it for him, and keep it till I had his directions what to remit it in. Accordingly, he gave me an order. This afterwards occasion'd me a good deal of uneasiness.
18At Newport we took in a number of passengers for New York, among which were two young women, companions, and a grave, sensible, matron-like Quaker woman, with her attendants. I had shown an obliging readiness to do her some little services, which impress'd her I suppose with a degree of good will toward me; therefore, when she saw a daily growing familiarity between me and the two young women, which they appear'd to encourage, she took me aside, and said: "Young man, I am concern'd for thee, as thou has no friend with thee, an seems not to know much of the world, or of the snares youth is expos'd to; depend upon it, those are very bad women; I can see it in all their actions; and if thee art not upon thy guard, they will draw thee into some danger; they are strangers to thee, and I advise thee, in a friendly concern for thy welfare, to have no acquaintance with them." As I seem'd at first not to think so ill of them as she did, she mentioned some things she had observ'd and heard that had escap'd my notice, but now convinc'd me she was right. I thank'd her for her kind advice, and promis'd to follow it. When we arriv'd at New York, they told me where they liv'd, and invited me to come and see them; but I avoided it, and it was well I did; for the next day the captain miss'd a silver spoon and some other things, that had been taken out of his cabbin, and, knowing that these were a couple of strumpets, he got a warrant to search their lodgings, found the stolen goods, and had the thieves punish'd. So, tho' we had escap'd a sunken rock, which we scrap'd upon in the passage, I thought this escape of rather more importance to me.
19At New York I found my friend Collins, who had arriv'd there some time before me. We had been intimate from children, and had read the same books together; but he had the advantage of more time for reading and studying, and a wonderful genius for mathematical learning, in which he far outstript me. While I liv'd in Boston most of my hours of leisure for conversation were spent with him, and he continu'd a sober as well as an industrious lad; was much respected for his learning by several of the clergy and other gentlemen, and seemed to promise making a good figure in life. But, during my absence, he had acquir'd a habit of sotting with brandy; and I found by his own account, and what I heard from others, that he had been drunk every day since his arrival at New York, and behav'd very oddly. He had gam'd, too, and lost his money, so that I was oblig'd to discharge his lodgings, and defray his expenses to and at Philadelphia, which prov'd extremely inconvenient to me.
20The then governor of New York, Burnet (son of Bishop Burnet), hearing from the captain that a young man, one of his passengers, had a great many books, desir'd he would bring me to see him. I waited upon him accordingly, and should have taken Collins with me but that he was not sober. The gov'r. treated me with great civility, show'd me his library, which was a very large one, and we had a good deal of conversation about books and authors. This was the second governor who had done me the honor to take notice of me; which, to a poor boy like me, was very pleasing.
21We proceeded to Philadelphia. I received on the way Vernon's money, without which we could hardly have finish'd our journey. Collins wished to be employ'd in some counting-house, but, whether they discover'd his dramming by his breath, or by his behaviour, tho' he had some recommendations, he met with no success in any application, and continu'd lodging and boarding at the same house with me, and at my expense. Knowing I had that money of Vernon's, he was continually borrowing of me, still promising repayment as soon as he should be in business. At length he had got so much of it that I was distress'd to think what I should do in case of being call'd on to remit it.
22His drinking continu'd, about which we sometimes quarrell'd;, for, when a little intoxicated, he was very fractious. Once, in a boat on the Delaware with some other young men, he refused to row in his turn. "I will be row'd home," says he. "We will not row you," says I. "You must, or stay all night on the water," says he, "just as you please." The others said, "Let us row; what signifies it?"
23But, my mind being soured with his other conduct, I continu'd to refuse. So he swore he would make me row, or throw me overboard; and coming along, stepping on the thwarts, toward me, when he came up and struck at me, I clapped my hand under his crutch, and, rising, pitched him head-foremost into the river. I knew he was a good swimmer, and so was under little concern about him; but before he could get round to lay hold of the boat, we had with a few strokes pull'd her out of his reach; and ever when he drew near the boat, we ask'd if he would row, striking a few strokes to slide her away from him. He was ready to die with vexation, and obstinately would not promise to row. However, seeing him at last beginning to tire, we lifted him in and brought him home dripping wet in the evening. We hardly exchang'd a civil word afterwards, and a West India captain, who had a commission to procure a tutor for the sons of a gentleman at Barbadoes, happening to meet with him, agreed to carry him thither. He left me then, promising to remit me the first money he should receive in order to discharge the debt; but I never heard of him after.
24The breaking into this money of Vernon's was one of the first great errata of my life; and this affair show'd that my father was not much out in his judgment when he suppos'd me too young to manage business of importance. But Sir William, on reading his letter, said he was too prudent. There was great difference in persons; and discretion did not always accompany years, nor was youth always without it. "And since he will not set you up," says he, "I will do it myself. Give me an inventory of the things necessary to be had from England, and I will send for them. You shall repay me when you are able; I am resolv'd to have a good printer here, and I am sure you must succeed." This was spoken with such an appearance of cordiality, that I had not the least doubt of his meaning what he said. I had hitherto kept the proposition of my setting up, a secret in Philadelphia, and I still kept it. Had lt been known that I depended on the governor, probably some friend, that knew him better, would have advis'd me not to rely on him, as I afterwards heard it as his known character to be liberal of promises which he never meant to keep. Yet, unsolicited as he was by me, how could I think his generous offers insincere? I believ'd him one of the best men in the world.
25I presented him an inventory of a little print'g-house, amounting by my computation to about one hundred pounds sterling. He lik'd it, but ask'd me if my being on the spot in England to chuse the types, and see that every thing was good of the kind, might not be of some advantage. "Then," says he, "when there, you may make acquaintances, and establish correspondences in the bookselling and stationery way." I agreed that this might be advantageous. "Then," says he, "get yourself ready to go with Annis;" which was the annual ship, and the only one at that time usually passing between London and Philadelphia. But it would be some months before Annis sail'd, so I continu'd working with Keimer, fretting about the money Collins had got from me, and in daily apprehensions of being call'd upon by Vernon, which, however, did not happen for some years after.
26I believe I have omitted mentioning that, in my first voyage from Boston, being becalm'd off Block Island, our people set about catching cod, and hauled up a great many. Hitherto I had stuck to my resolution of not eating animal food, and on this occasion consider'd, with my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had, or ever could do us any injury that might justify the slaughter. All this seemed very reasonable. But I had formerly been a great lover of fish, and, when this came hot out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanc'd some time between principle and inclination, till I recollected that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, "If you eat one another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you." So I din'd upon cod very heartily, and continued to eat with other people, returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.
27Keimer and I liv'd on a pretty good familiar footing, and agreed tolerably well, for he suspected nothing of my setting up. He retained a great deal of his old enthusiasms and lov'd argumentation. We therefore had many disputations. I used to work him so with my Socratic method, and had trepann'd him so often by questions apparently so distant from any point we had in hand, and yet by degrees lead to the point, and brought him into difficulties and contradictions, that at last he grew ridiculously cautious, and would hardly answer me the most common question, without asking first, "What do you intend to infer from that?" However, it gave him so high an opinion of my abilities in the confuting way, that he seriously proposed my being his colleague in a project he had of setting up a new sect. He was to preach the doctrines, and I was to confound all opponents. When he came to explain with me upon the doctrines, I found several conundrums which I objected to, unless I might have my way a little too, and introduce some of mine.
28Keimer wore his beard at full length, because somewhere in the Mosaic law it is said, "Thou shalt not mar the corners of thy beard." He likewise kept the Seventh day, Sabbath; and these two points were essentials with him. I dislik'd both; but agreed to admit them upon condition of his adopting the doctrine of using no animal food. "I doubt," said he, "my constitution will not bear that." I assur'd him it would, and that he would be the better for it. He was usually a great glutton, and I promised myself some diversion in half starving him. He agreed to try the practice, if I would keep him company. I did so, and we held it for three months. We had our victuals dress'd, and brought to us regularly by a woman in the neighborhood, who had from me a list of forty dishes to be prepar'd for us at different times, in all which there was neither fish, flesh, nor fowl, and the whim suited me the better at this time from the cheapness of it, not costing us above eighteenpence sterling each per week. I have since kept several Lents most strictly, leaving the common diet for that, and that for the common, abruptly, without the least inconvenience, so that I think there is little in the advice of making those changes by easy gradations. I went on pleasantly, but poor Keimer suffered grievously, tired of the project, long'd for the flesh-pots of Egypt, and order'd a roast pig. He invited me and two women friends to dine with him; but, it being brought too soon upon table, he could not resist the temptation, and ate the whole before we came.
29I had made some courtship during this time to Miss Read. I had a great respect and affection for her, and had some reason to believe she had the same for me; but, as I was about to take a long voyage, and we were both very young, only a little above eighteen, it was thought most prudent by her mother to prevent our going too far at present, as a marriage, if it was to take place, would be more convenient after my return, when I should be, as I expected, set up in my business. Perhaps, too, she thought my expectations not so well founded as I imagined them to be.
30My chief acquaintances at this time were Charles Osborne, Joseph Watson, and James Ralph, all lovers of reading. The two first were clerks to an eminent scrivener or conveyancer in the town, Charles Brogden; the other was clerk to a merchant. Watson was a pious, sensible young man, of great integrity; the others rather more lax in their principles of religion, particularly Ralph, who, as well as Collins, had been unsettled by me, for which they both made me suffer. Osborne was sensible, candid, frank; sincere and affectionate to his friends; but, in literary matters, too fond of criticising. Ralph was ingenious, genteel in his manners, and extremely eloquent; I think I never knew a prettier talker. Both of them great admirers of poetry, and began to try their hands in little pieces. Many pleasant walks we four had together on Sundays into the woods, near Schuylkill, where we read to one another, and conferr'd on what we read.
31Ralph was inclin'd to pursue the study of poetry, not doubting but he might become eminent in it, and make his fortune by it, alleging that the best poets must, when they first began to write, make as many faults as he did. Osborne dissuaded him, assur'd him he had no genius for poetry, and advis'd him to think of nothing beyond the business he was bred to; that, in the mercantile way, tho' he had no stock, he might, by his diligence and punctuality, recommend himself to employment as a factor, and in time acquire wherewith to trade on his own account. I approv'd the amusing one's self with poetry now and then, so far as to improve one's language, but no farther.
32On this it was propos'd that we should each of us, at our next meeting, produce a piece of our own composing, in order to improve by our mutual observations, criticisms, and corrections. As language and expression were what we had in view, we excluded all considerations of invention by agreeing that the task should be a version of the eighteenth Psalm, which describes the descent of a Deity. When the time of our meeting drew nigh, Ralph called on me first, and let me know his piece was ready. I told him I had been busy, and, having little inclination, had done nothing. He then show'd me his piece for my opinion, and I much approv'd it, as it appear'd to me to have great merit. "Now," says he, "Osborne never will allow the least merit in any thing of mine, but makes 1000 criticisms out of mere envy. He is not so jealous of you; I wish, therefore, you would take this piece, and produce it as yours; I will pretend not to have had time, and so produce nothing. We shall then see what he will say to it." It was agreed, and I immediately transcrib'd it, that it might appear in my own hand.
33We met; Watson's performance was read; there were some beauties in it, but many defects. Osborne's was read; it was much better; Ralph did it justice; remarked some faults, but applauded the beauties. He himself had nothing to produce. I was backward; seemed desirous of being excused; had not had sufficient time to correct, etc.; but no excuse could be admitted; produce I must. It was read and repeated; Watson and Osborne gave up the contest, and join'd in applauding it. Ralph only made some criticisms, and propos'd some amendments; but I defended my text. Osborne was against Ralph, and told him he was no better a critic than poet, so he dropt the argument. As they two went home together, Osborne expressed himself still more strongly in favor of what he thought my production; having restrain'd himself before, as he said, lest I should think it flattery. "But who would have imagin'd," said he, "that Franklin had been capable of such a performance; such painting, such force, such fire! He has even improv'd the original. In his common conversation he seems to have no choice of words; he hesitates and blunders; and yet, good God! how he writes!" When we next met, Ralph discovered the trick we had plaid him, and Osborne was a little laught at.
34This transaction fixed Ralph in his resolution of becoming a poet. I did all I could to dissuade him from it, but he continued scribbling verses till Pope cured him. He became, however, a pretty good prose writer. More of him hereafter. But, as I may not have occasion again to mention the other two, I shall just remark here, that Watson died in my arms a few years after, much lamented, being the best of our set. Osborne went to the West Indies, where he became an eminent lawyer and made money, but died young. He and I had made a serious agreement, that the one who happen'd first to die should, if possible, make a friendly visit to the other, and acquaint him how he found things in that separate state. But he never fulfill'd his promise.
35The governor, seeming to like my company, had me frequently to his house, and his setting me up was always mention'd as a fixed thing. I was to take with me letters recommendatory to a number of his friends, besides the letter of credit to furnish me with the necessary money for purchasing the press and types, paper, etc. For these letters I was appointed to call at different times, when they were to be ready, but a future time was still named. Thus he went on till the ship, whose departure too had been several times postponed, was on the point of sailing. Then, when I call'd to take my leave and receive the letters, his secretary, Dr. Bard, came out to me and said the governor was extremely busy in writing, but would be down at Newcastle before the ship, and there the letters would be delivered to me.
36Ralph, though married, and having one child, had determined to accompany me in this voyage. It was thought he intended to establish a correspondence, and obtain goods to sell on commission; but I found afterwards, that, thro' some discontent with his wife's relations, he purposed to leave her on their hands, and never return again. Having taken leave of my friends, and interchang'd some promises with Miss Read, I left Philadelphia in the ship, which anchor'd at Newcastle. The governor was there; but when I went to his lodging, the secretary came to me from him with the civillest message in the world, that he could not then see me, being engaged in business of the utmost importance, but should send the letters to me on board, wish'd me heartily a good voyage and a speedy return, etc. I returned on board a little puzzled, but still not doubting.
37Mr. Andrew Hamilton, a famous lawyer of Philadelphia, had taken passage in the same ship for himself and son, and with Mr. Denham, a Quaker merchant, and Messrs. Onion and Russel, masters of an iron work in Maryland, had engag'd the great cabin; so that Ralph and I were forced to take up with a berth in the steerage, and none on board knowing us, were considered as ordinary persons. But Mr. Hamilton and his son (it was James, since governor) return'd from Newcastle to Philadelphia, the father being recall'd by a great fee to plead for a seized ship; and, just before we sail'd, Colonel French coming on board, and showing me great respect, I was more taken notice of, and, with my friend Ralph, invited by the other gentlemen to come into the cabin, there being now room. Accordingly, we remov'd thither.
38Understanding that Colonel French had brought on board the governor's despatches, I ask'd the captain for those letters that were to be under my care. He said all were put into the bag together and he could not then come at them; but, before we landed in England, I should have an opportunity of picking them out; so I was satisfied for the present, and we proceeded on our voyage. We had a sociable company in the cabin, and lived uncommonly well, having the addition of all Mr. Hamilton's stores, who had laid in plentifully. In this passage Mr. Denham contracted a friendship for me that continued during his life. The voyage was otherwise not a pleasant one, as we had a great deal of bad weather.
39When we came into the Channel, the captain kept his word with me, and gave me an opportunity of examining the bag for the governor's letters. I found none upon which my name was put as under my care. I picked out six or seven, that, by the handwriting, I thought might be the promised letters, especially as one of them was directed to Basket, the king's printer, and another to some stationer. We arriv'd in London the 24th of December, 1724. I waited upon the stationer, who came first in my way, delivering the letter as from Governor Keith. "I don't know such a person," says he; but, opening the letter, "O! this is from Riddlesden. I have lately found him to be a compleat rascal, and I will have nothing to do with him, nor receive any letters from him." So, putting the letter into my hand, he turn'd on his heel and left me to serve some customer. I was surprized to find these were not the governor's letters; and, after recollecting and comparing circumstances, I began to doubt his sincerity. I found my friend Denham, and opened the whole affair to him. He let me into Keith's character; told me there was not the least probability that he had written any letters for me; that no one, who knew him, had the smallest dependence on him; and he laught at the notion of the governor's giving me a letter of credit, having, as he said, no credit to give. On my expressing some concern about what I should do, he advised me to endeavor getting some employment in the way of my business. "Among the printers here," said he, "you will improve yourself, and when you return to America, you will set up to greater advantage."
40We both of us happen'd to know, as well as the stationer, that Riddlesden, the attorney, was a very knave. He had half ruin'd Miss Read's father by persuading him to be bound for him. By this letter it appear'd there was a secret scheme on foot to the prejudice of Hamilton (suppos'd to be then coming over with us); and that Keith was concerned in it with Riddlesden. Denham, who was a friend of Hamilton's thought he ought to be acquainted with it; so, when he arriv'd in England, which was soon after, partly from resentment and ill-will to Keith and Riddlesden, and partly from good-will to him, I waited on him, and gave him the letter. He thank'd me cordially, the information being of importance to him; and from that time he became my friend, greatly to my advantage afterwards on many occasions.
41But what shall we think of a governor's playing such pitiful tricks, and imposing so grossly on a poor ignorant boy! It was a habit he had acquired. He wish'd to please everybody; and, having little to give, he gave expectations. He was otherwise an ingenious, sensible man, a pretty good writer, and a good governor for the people, tho' not for his constituents, the proprietaries, whose instructions he sometimes disregarded. Several of our best laws were of his planning and passed during his administration.
42Ralph and I were inseparable companions. We took lodgings together in Little Britain at three shillings and sixpence per week, as much as we could then afford. He found some relations, but they were poor, and unable to assist him. He now let me know his intentions of remaining in London, and that he never meant to return to Philadelphia. He had brought no money with him, the whole he could muster having been expended in paying his passage. I had fifteen pistoles; so he borrowed occasionally of me to subsist, while he was looking out for business. He first endeavored to get into the playhouse, believing himself qualify'd for an actor; but Wilkes, to whom he apply'd, advis'd him candidly not to think of that employment, as it was impossible be should succeed in it. Then he propos'd to Roberts, a publisher in Paternoster Row, to write for him a weekly paper like the Spectator, on certain conditions, which Roberts did not approve. Then he endeavored to get employment as a hackney writer, to copy for the stationers and lawyers about the Temple, but could find no vacancy.
43I immediately got into work at Palmer's, then a famous printing-house in Bartholomew Close, and here I continu'd near a year. I was pretty diligent, but spent with Ralph a good deal of my earnings in going to plays and other places of amusement. We had together consumed all my pistoles, and now just rubbed on from hand to mouth. He seem'd quite to forget his wife and child, and I, by degrees, my engagements with Miss Read, to whom I never wrote more than one letter, and that was to let her know I was not likely soon to return. This was another of the great errata of my life, which I should wish to correct if I were to live it over again. In fact, by our expenses, I was constantly kept unable to pay my passage.
44At Palmer's I was employed in composing for the second edition of Wollaston's Religion of Nature. Some of his reasonings not appearing to me well founded, I wrote a little metaphysical piece in which I made remarks on them. It was entitled "A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain." I inscribed it to my friend Ralph; I printed a small number. It occasion'd my being more consider'd by Mr. Palmer as a young man of some ingenuity, tho' he seriously expostulated with me upon the principles of my pamphlet, which to him appear'd abominable. My printing this pamphlet was another erratum. While I lodg'd in Little Britain, I made an acquaintance with one Wilcox, a bookseller, whose shop was at the next door. He had an immense collection of second-hand books. Circulating libraries were not then in use; but we agreed that, on certain reasonable terms, which I have now forgotten, I might take, read, and return any of his books. This I esteem'd a great advantage, and I made as much use of it as I could.
45My pamphlet by some means falling into the hands of one Lyons, a surgeon, author of a book entitled The Infallibility of Human Judgment, it occasioned an acquaintance between us. He took great notice of me, called on me often to converse on those subjects, carried me to the Horns, a pale alehouse in—Lane, Cheapside, and introduced me to Mr. Mandeville, author of the Fable of the Bees, who had a club there, of which he was the soul, being a most facetious, entertaining companion. Lyons, too, introduced me to Dr. Pemberton, at Batson's Coffee-house, who promis'd to give me an opportunity, some time or other, of seeing Sir Isaac Newton, of which I was extreamely desirous; but this never happened.
46I had brought over a few curiosities, among which the principal was a purse made of the asbestos, which purifies by fire. Sir Hans Sloane heard of it, came to see me, and invited me to his house in Bloomsbury Square, where he show'd me all his curiosities, and persuaded me to let him add that to the number, for which he paid me handsomely.
47In our house there lodg'd a young woman, a milliner, who, I think, had a shop in the Cloisters. She had been genteelly bred, was sensible and lively, and of most pleasing conversation. Ralph read plays to her in the evenings, they grew intimate, she took another lodging, and he followed her. They liv'd together some time; but, he being still out of business, and her income not sufficient to maintain them with her child, he took a resolution of going from London, to try for a country school, which he thought himself well qualified to undertake, as he wrote an excellent hand, and was a master of arithmetic and accounts. This, however, he deemed a business below him, and confident of future better fortune, when he should be unwilling to have it known that he once was so meanly employed, he changed his name, and did me the honor to assume mine; for I soon after had a letter from him, acquainting me that he was settled in a small village (in Berkshire, I think it was, where he taught reading and writing to ten or a dozen boys, at sixpence each per week), recommending Mrs. T—to my care, and desiring me to write to him, directing for Mr. Franklin, schoolmaster, at such a place.
48He continued to write frequently, sending me large specimens of an epic poem which he was then composing, and desiring my remarks and corrections. These I gave him from time to time, but endeavor'd rather to discourage his proceeding. One of Young's Satires was then just published. I copy'd and sent him a great part of it, which set in a strong light the folly of pursuing the Muses with any hope of advancement by them. All was in vain; sheets of the poem continued to come by every post. In the mean time, Mrs. T—, having on his account lost her friends and business, was often in distresses, and us'd to send for me, and borrow what I could spare to help her out of them. I grew fond of her company, and, being at that time under no religious restraint, and presuming upon my importance to her, I attempted familiarities (another erratum) which she repuls'd with a proper resentment, and acquainted him with my behaviour. This made a breach between us; and, when he returned again to London, he let me know he thought I had cancell'd all the obligations he had been under to me. So I found I was never to expect his repaying me what I lent to him, or advanc'd for him. This, however, was not then of much consequence, as he was totally unable; and in the loss of his friendship I found myself relieved from a burthen. I now began to think of getting a little money beforehand, and, expecting better work, I left Palmer's to work at Watts's, near Lincoln's Inn Fields, a still greater printing-house. Here I continued all the rest of my stay in London.
49At my first admission into this printing-house I took to working at press, imagining I felt a want of the bodily exercise I had been us'd to in America, where presswork is mix'd with composing. I drank only water; the other workmen, near fifty in number, were great guzzlers of beer. On occasion, I carried up and down stairs a large form of types in each hand, when others carried but one in both hands. They wondered to see, from this and several instances, that the Water-American, as they called me, was stronger than themselves, who drank strong beer! We had an alehouse boy who attended always in the house to supply the workmen. My companion at the press drank every day a pint before breakfast, a pint at breakfast with his bread and cheese, a pint between breakfast and dinner, a pint at dinner, a pint in the afternoon about six o'clock, and another when he had done his day's work. I thought it a detestable custom; but it was necessary, he suppos'd, to drink strong beer, that he might be strong to labor. I endeavored to convince him that the bodily strength afforded by beer could only be in proportion to the grain or flour of the barley dissolved in the water of which it was made; that there was more flour in a pennyworth of bread; and therefore, if he would eat that with a pint of water, it would give him more strength than a quart of beer. He drank on, however, and had four or five shillings to pay out of his wages every Saturday night for that muddling liquor; an expense I was free from. And thus these poor devils keep themselves always under.
50Watts, after some weeks, desiring to have me in the composing-room, I left the pressmen; a new bien venu or sum for drink, being five shillings, was demanded of me by the compositors. I thought it an imposition, as I had paid below; the master thought so too, and forbad my paying it. I stood out two or three weeks, was accordingly considered as an excommunicate, and had so many little pieces of private mischief done me, by mixing my sorts, transposing my pages, breaking my matter, etc., etc., if I were ever so little out of the room, and all ascribed to the chappel ghost, which they said ever haunted those not regularly admitted, that, notwithstanding the master's protection, I found myself oblig'd to comply and pay the money, convinc'd of the folly of being on ill terms with those one is to live with continually.
51I was now on a fair footing with them, and soon acquir'd considerable influence. I propos'd some reasonable alterations in their chappel laws, and carried them against all opposition. From my example, a great part of them left their muddling breakfast of beer, and bread, and cheese, finding they could with me be suppli'd from a neighboring house with a large porringer of hot water-gruel, sprinkled with pepper, crumbl'd with bread, and a bit of butter in it, for the price of a pint of beer, viz., three half-pence. This was a more comfortable as well as cheaper breakfast, and kept their heads clearer. Those who continued sotting with beer all day, were often, by not paying, out of credit at the alehouse, and us'd to make interest with me to get beer; their light, as they phrased it, being out. I watch'd the pay-table on Saturday night, and collected what I stood engag'd for them, having to pay sometimes near thirty shillings a week on their account. This, and my being esteem'd a pretty good riggite, that is, a jocular verbal satirist, supported my consequence in the society. My constant attendance (I never making a St. Monday) recommended me to the master; and my uncommon quickness at composing occasioned my being put upon all work of dispatch, which was generally better paid. So I went on now very agreeably.