Franklin's Autobiography

73

"Never making," etc., i.e., never making a holiday of Monday. The heavy drinkers of Saturday night and Sunday needed Monday to recover from their excesses.

74

The woman who, according to legend, wiped the face of Jesus on his way to Calvary, and carried away the likeness of his face, which had been miraculously printed on the cloth.

75

A suburb of London, north of the Thames.

76

Don Saltero had been a servant to Sir Hans Sloane, and had learned from him to treasure curiosities. He now had a coffeehouse at Chelsea.

77

A name given to a part of London. The distance Franklin swam was about three miles.

78

Settlement.

79

Pay.

80

This plan has never been found.

81

This method of expression was adopted on the reformation of the calendar in England in 1752. It shows in this case that the February was of the year 1726 according to the old style, and 1727 according to the new calendar. The year 1751 began on the 25th of March, the former New-Year's Day, and ended, by act of Parliament, at the 1st of January, 1752.

82

Declared by word of mouth, not written.

83

Those who were unable to pay for their passage by ship from one country to another, sometimes sold their service for a term of years to the captain who brought them over.

84

Bound by articles of apprenticeship.

85

The guinea contains twenty-one shillings, while the pound has twenty.

86

A crimp is one who brings recruits to the army or sailors to ships by false inducements.

87

Molds.

88

Here used for salesman.

89

Marks or registers by which a bill may be identified.

90

See Note 14, p. 19.

91

Belief in the existence of a personal God, but denying revelation.

92

"Whatever is, is in its causes just,Since all things are by fate. But purblind manSees but a part o' the chain, the nearest links;His eyes not carrying to the equal beamThat poises all above."Dryden, [OE]dipus, act iii. sc. I.

93

The word means an assembly of persons engaged for a common purpose. It is from the Spanish junta ("a council").

94

An instrument used in navigation for measuring the altitude of the sun.

95

Putting the types no longer needed for printing into the proper boxes.

96

Set up for printing.

97

Type in a jumbled mass.

98

"This paper was called The Universal Instructor in all Arts and Sciences and Pennsylvania Gazette. Keimer printed his last number – the thirty-ninth – on the twenty-fifth day of September, 1729." – Bigelow.

99

The governor brought instructions from the king that his salary should be one thousand pounds. The legislature claimed the liberty of fixing the sum themselves. Franklin ended his article with this sentence: "Their happy mother country will perhaps observe with pleasure that, though her gallant cocks and matchless dogs abate their natural fire and intrepidity when transported to a foreign clime (as this nation is), yet her sons in the remotest part of the earth, and even to the third and fourth descent, still retain that ardent spirit of liberty, and that undaunted courage, which has in every age so gloriously distinguished Britons and Englishmen from the rest of mankind."

100

Franklin's Note. – I got his son once five hundred pounds.

101

This money had not the full value of the pound sterling.

102

That is, the government of Delaware.

103

In secret.

104

Men on horseback who carried the mail.

105

Miss Read's first marriage.

106

Mrs. Franklin died Dec. 19, 1774. Franklin celebrated his wife in a song, of which the following verses are a part:

"Of their Chloes and Phyllises poets may prate,I sing my plain country Joan,These twelve years my wife, still the joy of my life,Blest day that I made her my own."Am I loaded with care, she takes off a large share,That the burden ne'er makes me to reel;Does good fortune arrive, the joy of my wifeQuite doubles the pleasure I feel."Some faults have we all, and so has my Joan,But then they're exceedingly small;And, now I'm grown used to them, so like my own,I scarcely can see them at all."Were the finest young princess with millions in purse,To be had in exchange for my Joan,I could not get better wife, might get a worse,So I'll stick to my dearest old Joan."

107

Franklin's Memorandum. – Thus far was written with the intention expressed in the beginning, and therefore contains several little family anecdotes of no importance to others. What follows was written many years after in compliance with the advice contained in these letters (see p. 192), and accordingly intended for the public. The affairs of the Revolution occasioned the interruption.

108

See Note 1.

109

The Philadelphia Library was incorporated in 1742. In its building is a tablet which reads as follows:

Be it remembered,in honor of the Philadelphia youth(then chiefly artificers),that in MDCCXXXIthey cheerfully,at the instance of Benjamin Franklin,one of their number,instituted the Philadelphia Library,which, though small at first,is become highly valuable and extensively useful,and which the walls of this edificeare now destined to contain and preserve;the first stone of whose foundationwas here placedthe thirty-first day of August, 1789

The inscription, save the mention of himself, was prepared by Franklin.

110

See Prov. xxii. 29.

111

The following is taken from the commentary of Hierocles upon the Golden Verses of Pythagoras. The English version is given by Bigelow in his edition of the Autobiography:

"He [Pythagoras, who lived in the sixth century B.C.] requires also that this examination be daily repeated. The time which he recommends for this work is about even or bedtime, that we may conclude the action of the day with the judgment of conscience, making the examination of our conversation an evening song to God. Wherein have I transgressed? What have I done? What duty have I omitted? So shall we measure our lives by rules.

"We should have our parents and relations in high esteem, love and embrace good men, raise ourselves above corporeal affections, everywhere stand in awe of ourselves, carefully observe justice, consider the frailty of riches and momentary life, embrace the lot which falls to us by divine judgment, delight in a divine frame of spirit, convert our mind to what is most excellent, love good discourses, not lie open to impostures, not be servilely affected in the possession of virtue, advise before action to prevent repentance, free ourselves from uncertain opinions, live with knowledge, and lastly, that we should adapt our bodies and the things without to the exercise of virtue. These are the things which the lawgiving mind has implanted in the souls of men."

112

It is dated July 1, 1733.

113

"O philosophy, thou guide of life! O thou searcher after virtue and banisher of vice! One day lived well and in obedience to thy precepts should be preferred to an eternity of sin."

114

Franklin's Note. – Nothing so likely to make a man's fortune as virtue.

115

Thus far written at Passy, 1784.

116

The Revolution.

117

Almanacs were the first issues of the American press. It is not easy in our day to understand their importance to the early colonists, and their consequent popularity. The makers, philomaths ("lovers of learning") as Franklin called them, set out their wares in every attractive form the taste and ingenuity of the age could devise. They made them a diary, a receipt book, a jest book, and a weather prophet, as well as a calendar book of dates. The household was poor indeed which could not scrape up a twopence or a sixpence for the annual copy. Once bought, it hung by the big chimney-piece, or lay upon the clock shelf with the Bible and a theological tract or two. It was read by the light that shone from the blazing logs of the fireplace or the homemade tallow dip. Its recipes helped the mother in her dyeing or weaving or cooking. Its warnings of "cold storms," "flurries of snow," cautioned the farmer against too early planting of corn; and its perennial jokes flavored the mirth of many a corn husking or apple paring.

118

See p. 201.

119

See pp. 193–200.

120

A sheet printed on one side only and without arrangement in columns.

121

Statement.

122

Departure from the faith held by the members of the synod or assembly.

123

"Pro and con," i.e., for and against.

124

Vaccination was not at this time known. By inoculation the smallpox poison was introduced into the arm, and produced a milder form of the disease. [n]

125

George Whitefield, one of the founders of Methodism, who was born in Gloucester, England, in 1714, and died in Newburyport, Mass., in 1770. [n]

126

In London.

127

General Oglethorpe founded an English colony in Georgia in 1732. He wished to make an asylum to which debtors, whose liberty the laws of England put into the hands of the creditor, (see Way to Wealth, p. 204,) might escape, and where those fleeing from religious persecution might be safe from their pursuers.

128

This institution was established in Savannah, and called Bethesda.

129

Written words endure.

130

This society continues. The plan of it was discussed by the Junto, from which came six of the nine original members. Its investigations were to be in botany, medicine, mineralogy and mining, mathematics, chemistry, mechanics, arts, trades and manufactures, geography, topography, agriculture, and "all philosophical experiments that let light into the nature of things, tend to increase the power of man over matter, and multiply the conveniences and pleasures of life." "Benjamin Franklin, the writer of this proposal, offers himself to serve the society as their secretary till they shall be provided with one more capable."

131

The Pennsylvania legislature.

132

At this time lotteries were used for raising money to support the government, to carry on wars, and to build churches, colleges, roads, etc. They were not then looked upon as fostering gambling.

133

The walls of defense between the openings for the cannon.

134

Retaliation.

135

See Note 194, p. 181.

136

A sect of German-American Baptists, whose name comes from the German tunken ("to immerse").

137

It is still used, and called the "Franklin stove."

138

It stood on Fourth Street, below Arch.

139

A member of a denomination which has its name from Moravia, a division of Austria-Hungary. For an account of their home and practices, see pp. 168–170.

140

A representative in the lower house of the legislature.

141

"Magic squares," i.e., square figures of a series of numbers so disposed that the sums of each row or line, taken in any direction, are equal. Magic squares are also formed of words or phrases so arranged as to read the same in all directions. The magic circle is a modification of the magic square, one form of which was devised by Franklin.

142

A form or draft of the law, presented to the legislature for adoption.

143

The church of this society is now on the corner of Walnut and Twenty-first Streets.

144

Pleasure gardens in the London of Franklin's day.

145

A street in London in which Franklin had apartments.

146

Little channel or gutter.

147

Now a part of London, but formerly a separate corporation.

148

"From the manuscript journal of Mr. Andrew Ellicott," says Mr. John Bigelow in one of his editions of the Autobiography, "I have been kindly favored by Mr. J. C. G. Kennedy, of Washington, one of his descendants, with the following extract, which was written three years before the preceding paragraph in the Autobiography:

"'I found him [Franklin] in his little room among his papers. He received me very politely, and immediately entered into conversation about the western country. His room makes a singular appearance, being filled with old philosophical instruments, papers, boxes, tables, and stools. About ten o'clock he placed some water on the fire, but not being expert through his great age, I desired him to give me the pleasure of assisting him. He thanked me, and replied that he ever made it a point to wait upon himself, and, although he began to find himself infirm, he was determined not to increase his infirmities by giving way to them. After the water was hot, I observed his object was to shave himself, which operation he performed without a glass and with great expedition. I asked him if he ever employed a barber; he answered: "No; I think happiness does not consist so much in particular pieces of good fortune, which perhaps occasionally fall to a man's lot, as to be able in his old age to do those little things which, being unable to perform himself, would be done by others with a sparing hand."'"

149

That is, he examined the accounts and managed the financial affairs.

150

The ministers of the Crown in London.

151

The college in Cambridge, Harvard College.

152

The commissioners of trade, who lived in England, and to whom the colonial governors made their reports and returns. Their duty was "to put things into a form and order of government that should always preserve these countries in obedience to the Crown."

153

A union of six of the more considerable Indian tribes.

154

The power of the king.

155

The government of the people.

156

The squire of Don Quixote, to whom a duke jokingly granted the government of an island for a few days. This is one of the best-known episodes in that amusing history.

157

The governors of the provinces, who were appointed by the proprietaries (see Note 61, p. 58).

158

In 1752 the French began connecting their settlements on the Lakes and on the Mississippi by a chain of forts on the Ohio. The English warned off the intruders upon what they deemed their territory, and sent General Braddock to the colonists' aid. War was declared in 1756.

159

A French fort upon the west side of Lake Champlain.

160

That is, he was born in Boston.

161

The estate of the Penn family.

162

Through which the people loaned money to the government.

163

A tax or duty on certain home productions.

164

Gun carriages, transport wagons, etc.

165

Of the government at London, as on p. 147.

166

"Per diem," i.e., a day, or per day.

167

Disinterested.

168

A member of the light cavalry.

169

"Carrying horses," i.e., carrying packs or burdens upon the back.

170

Junior and subordinate officers.

171

Muscovado sugar is brown sugar.

172

Upon the site of this fort Pittsburg is built. The French were also fortified at Niagara and at Frontenac on Lake Ontario.

173

The historian and philosopher. He was born in 1711 and died in 1776.

174

"Bought servants," i.e., those whose service had been bought for a term of years (see Note 83, p. 69).

175

This dialogue and the militia act are in the Gentleman's Magazine for February and March, 1756.

176

Fifty-five miles north of Philadelphia.

177

Relieved one another in military duty.

178

The exact location is not known.

179

The powder used to fire the charge. It was ignited by a spark from the flintlock.

180

Pole.

181

"Swivel gun," i.e., a gun turning upon a swivel or pivot in any direction.

182

Fund.

183

Light cannon mounted on carriages.

184

The publisher, Edward Cave (1691–1754), was the founder of the Gentleman's Magazine, the earliest literary journal of the kind.

185

"Copy money," i.e., money paid for the copy or article.

186

Monsieur.

187

A title formerly assumed in France by a class of men who had slight connections with the church, and were employed as teachers or engaged in some literary pursuit.

188

Pupil.

189

The iron rod was on the kite which Franklin flew in a thunderstorm in 1752. A hemp cord conducted the electricity to a key near his hand, and from this he received the shock which proved the truth of his theory that lightning and electricity are one and the same.

190

See Note 157, p. 151.

191

A vessel starting at some set time and conveying letters and passengers from country to country.

192

Between ourselves.

193

William Pitt (1708–78). See Macaulay's Essay on the Earl of Chatham (Eclectic English Classics, American Book Company).

194

A possession of the French in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It was taken by the English in 1758.

195

A prohibition to prevent ships leaving port.

196

The worm which eats into the wood bottoms of ships.

197

"Ensign staff," i.e., flagstaff.

198

The log line is a line fastened to the log-chip, by which, when it is thrown over the side of a vessel, the rate of speed is found.

199

A watch is a certain part of a vessel's officers and crew who have the care and working of her for a period of time, commonly for four hours.

200

By French vessels.

201

Measurements of the depth of the water with a plummet and line.

202

Of the sun's altitude in order to calculate the latitude (see Note 94, p. 77).

203

Vessels armed and officered by private persons, but acting under a commission from government.

204

An inward current.

205

Studding sails are sails set between the edges of the chief square sails during a fair wind.

206

"Here terminates the Autobiography, as published by William Temple Franklin and his successors. What follows was written the last year of Dr. Franklin's life, and was never before printed in English." – Bigelow's Autobiography of Franklin, 1868, p. 350, note.

207

By word of mouth.

208

Poor Richard's maxims in the Almanac.