none. Not knowing the different prices, nor the names of the different sorts of bread, I told him to give me three-penny worth of any sort. He gave me accordingly three great puffy rolls. I was surprised at the quantity, but took it, and having no room in my pockets, walked 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 coming round found myself again at Mar mortification to find, that the regular boats] for a three-penny loaf, and was told they had had gone a little before, and no other expected to go before Tuesday, this being Saturday. Wherefore I returned to an old woman in the town, of whom I had bought some gingerbread to eat on the water, and asked her advice; she proposed to lodge me, till a passage by some other boat occurred. I accepted her offer, being much fatigued by travelling on foot. Understanding I was a printer, she would have had me remain in that town and follow my business; being ignorant what stock was necessary to begin with. She was very hospitable, gave me a dinner of ox cheek with a great good-will, accepting only of a pot of ale in return; and I thought myself fixed till Tuesday should come. However, walking in the evening by the side of the ri-ket-street wharf, near the boat I came in, to ver, a boat came by which I found was going towards Philadelphia with several people in her. They took me in, and as there was no wind, we rowed all the way; and about midnight, not having yet seen the city, some of the company were confident we must have passed it, and would row no further: the others knew not where we were, so we put towards the shore, got into a creek, landed near an old fence, with the rails of which we made a fire, the night being cold, in October, and there we remained till daylight. Then one of the company knew the place to be Cooper's creek, a little above Philadelphia, which we saw as soon as we got out of the creek, and arrived there about eight or nine o'clock, on the Sunday morning, and landed at Market-street wharf. I 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 clothes coming round by sea. I was dirty, from my being so long in the boat; my pockets were stuffed out with shirts and stockings, and I knew no one, nor where to look for lodging. Fatigued with walking, rowing, and the want of sleep, I was very hungry; and my whole stock of cash consisted in a single dollar, and about a shilling in copper coin, which I gave to the boatmen for my passage. At first they refused it, on account of my having rowed, but I insisted on their taking it. Man is sometimes more generous when he has little money, than when he has plenty; perhaps to prevent his being thought to have but little. I walked towards the top of the street, gazing about, still in Market-street, where I met a boy with bread. I had often made a meal of dry bread, and enquiring where he had bought it, I went immediately to the baker's he directed me to. I asked for biscuits, meaning such as we had at Boston: that sort, it seems, was not made in Philadelphia. I then asked 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. Thus 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, through labour and want of rest the preceding night, I fell fast asleep, and continued so till the meeting broke up, when some one was kind enough to rouse me. This therefore was the first house I was in, or slept in, in Philadelphia. I then walked down towards the river, and looking in the faces of every one, I met a young Quaker man whose countenance pleased me, and accosting him, requested he would tell me where a stranger could get a lodging. We were then near the sign of the Three Mariners. "Here," said he, "is a house where they receive strangers, but it is not a reputable one; if thou wilt walk with me, I'll shew thee a better one;" and he conducted me to the Crooked Billet in Water-street.There I got a dinner; and while I was eating, several questions were asked me; as from my youth and appearance I was suspected of being a runaway. After dinner my host having shown me to a bed, I lay myself on it, without undressing, and slept till six in the evening, when I was called to supper. I went to bed again very early, and slept very soundly till next morning. Then I dressed myself as neat 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 introduced me to his son, who received me civilly, gave me a breakfast, but told me he did not at present want a hand, being lately supplied with one: but there was another | particular religion, but something of all on printer in town lately set up, one Keimer, occasion; was very ignorant of the world, who perhaps might employ me; if not, I and had, as I afterwards found, a good deal of should be welcome to lodge at his house, and the knave in his composition. He did not Le would give me a little work to do now and like my lodging at Bradford's while I worked then till fuller business should offer. 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, beforementioned, who was the owner of his house; and my chest of 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 happened to see me eating my roll in the street. The old gentleman said he would go with me to the new printer; and when we found him, "Neighbour," said Bradford, "I have brought to see you, a young man of your business; perhaps you may want such a one." He asked me a few questions, put a composing stick in my hand to see how I worked, 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, entered into a conversation on his present undertaking and prospects; 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 influence he relied on, and in what manner he intended to proceed. I, who stood by and heard all, saw immediately, that one was a crafty old sophister, and the other a true novice. Bradford left me with Keimer, who was greatly surprised when I told him who the old man was. The printing house, I found, consisted of an old damaged press and a small worn-out fount of English types which he was using himself, composing an elegy on Aquilla Rose, before mentioned; an ingenious young man, of excellent character, much respected in the town, secretary to the assembly, and a pretty poet. Keimer made verses too, but very indifferently. He could not be said to write them, for his method was to compose them in the types directly out of his head; there being no copy, but one pair of cases, and the elegy probably requiring all the letter, no one could help him. I endeavoured to put his press (which he had not yet used, and of which he understood nothing) into order to be worked with; and promising to come and print off his elegy as soon as he should have got it ready, I returned 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. These two printers I found poorly qualified for their business. Bradford had not been bred to it, and was very illiterate; and Keimer, though 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 I 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 gained money by my industry and frugality. I lived very contented, and forgot Boston as much as I could, and did not wish it should be known where I resided, except to my friend Collins, who was in the secret and kept it faithfully. At length, however, an incident happened, that occasioned my return home 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 New Castle, forty miles below Philadelphia, and hearing of me, wrote me a letter, mentioning the grief of my relations and 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 intreated me earnestly. I wrote an answer to his letter, thanked him for his advice, but stated my reasons for quitting Boston, so fully and in such a light, as to convince him, that I was not so much in the wrong as he had apprehended. Sir William Keith, governor of the province, was then at New Castle, and captain Holmes happening to be in company with him, when my letter came to hand, spoke to him of me, and shewed him the letter. The governor read it, and seemed surprised when he was told my age. He said I appeared 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 Holmes 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, (who proved to be col. French of New Castle, in the province of Delaware) finely dressed, come directly across the street to our house, and heard them at the door. Keimer ran down immediately, thinking it a visit to him; but the governor in quired for me, came up, and with a conde- one of them asking what kind of money we scension and politeness I had been quite unu- had there, I produced an handful of silver, sed to, made me many compliments, desired and spread it before them, which was a kind to be acquainted with me; blamed me kind- of raree-show they had not been used to, paly for not having made myself known to him, per being the money of Boston. Then I took when I first came to the place, and would an opportunity of letting them see my watch; have me away with him to the tavern, where and lastly (my brother still grum and sullen) he was going with colonel French to taste, gave them a dollar to drink and took my as he said, some excellent Madeira. I was leave.. This visit of mine offended him exnot a little surprised, and Keimer stared tremely. For when my mother sometime with astonishment. I went however with after spoke to him of a reconciliation, and the governor and colonel French to a tavern of her wish to see us on good terms togethe corner of Third-street, and over the Ma-ther, and that we might live for the future deira he proposed my setting up my business. as brothers; he said I had insulted him in He stated the probabilities of my success, and such a manner before his people, that le both he and colonel French assured me I could never forget or forgive it. In this, how should have their interest and influence to ever, he was mistaken. obtain for me the public business of both governments. And as I expressed doubts that my father would assist me in it, sir William said he would give me a letter to him, in which he would set forth the advantages, and he did not doubt he should determine him to comply. So it was concluded I should return to Boston by the first vessel, with the governor's letter to my father. In the mean time it was to be kept a secret, and I went on working with Keimer as usual. The governor sent for me now and then to dine with him, which I considered a great honour, more particularly as he conversed with me in the most affable, familiar, and friendly man ner. My old companion Collins, who was a clerk in the Post Office, pleased 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 in mathematics and natural philosophy, to come with mine and me to New York, where he proposed to wait for me. My father received the governor's letter with some surprise; but said little of it to me for some time. Captain Holmes returning, he shewed it to him, and asked him if he knew sir William Keith, and what kind of a man he was; adding, that he must be of small discretion, to think of setting a youth up in business who wanted three years to arrive at man's estate. Holmes said what he could in favour of the project, but my father was decided y against it, and at last gave a flat denial. He wrote a civil letter to sir William, thanking him for the patronage he had so kindly offered me, and declining to assist me as yet in setting up, I being, in his opinion, too young to be trusted with the management of an unAbout the end of April, 1724, a little ves- dertaking so important, and for which the presel offered for Boston. I took leave of Kei-paration required a considerable expenditure. mer, 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 would 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 obliged to pump almost continually, at which I took my turn. We arrived safe, however, at Boston, in about a fortnight. I My father, though he did not approve sir had been absent seven months, and my friends William's proposition, was yet pleased that I had heard nothing of me; for my brother had been able to obtain so advantageous a chaHolmes was not yet returned, and had not racter from a person of such note where I had written about me. My unexpected appear-resided; and that I had been so industrious ance surprised 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 dressed than ever while in his service, having a genteel new suit from head to foot, a watch, and my pockets lined with near five pounds sterling in silver. He received me not very frankly, looked me all over, and turned to his work again. The journeymen were inquisitive where I had been, what sort of a country it was, and how I liked it. I praised it much, and the happy life I led in it, expressing strongly my intention of returning to it: and 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, advised me to behave respectfully to the people there, endeavour to obtain the general esteem, and avoid lampooning and libelling, to which he thought I had too much inclination; telling me, that by steady industry and prudent parsimony, I might save enough by the time I was one-andtwenty, 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 embarked again for New York, now with their approbation and their blessing.The 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 loved me. A friend of his, one Vernon, having some money due him in Pennsylvania, (about thirty-five pounds currency,) desired I would recover it for him, and keep it till I had his directions what to employ it in. Accordingly he gave me an order to receive it. This business afterwards occasioned me a good deal of uneasiness. was much respected for his learning by severa of the clergy and other gentlemen, and seemed to promise making a good figure in life. But during my absence he had acquired a habit of drinking of brandy, and I found by his own account, as well as that of others, that he had been drunk every day since his arrival at New York, and behaved himself in a very extravagant manner. He had gamed too, and lost his money, so that I was obliged to discharge his lodgings, and defray his expenses on the road, and at Philadelphia; which proved a great burden to me. The then govenor of New York, Burnet, (son of bishop Burnet,) hearing from the captain, that one of the passengers At Newport we took in a number of pas- had a great many books on board, desired him sengers, amongst which were two young wo- to bring me to see him. I waited on him, and men travelling together, and a sensible ma- should have taken Collins with me had he been tron-like quaker lady, with her servants. I sober. The governos received me with great had shewn an obliging disposition to render civility, shewed me his library, which was a her some little services, which probably im- considerable one, and we had a good deal of pressed her with sentiments of good will to- conversation relative to books and authors. wards me; for, when she witnessed the daily This was the second governor who had done growing familiarity between the young wome the honour to take notice of me; and for men and myself, which they appeared to en- a poor boy like me, was very pleasing. We courage, she took me aside, and said, " Young proceeded to Philadelphia, I received in the man, I am concerned for thee, as thou hast no way Vernon's money, without which we could friend with thee, and seem'st not to know hardly have finished our journey. Collins much of the world, or of the snares youth is wished to be employed in some counting exposed to: depend upon it these are very house; but whether they discovered his dram bad women, I can see it by all their actions; drinking by his breath or by his behaviour, and if thou art not upon thy guard, they will though he had some recommendations, he met draw thee into some danger: they are stran- with no success in any application, and congers to thee, and I advise thee, in a friendly tinued lodging and boarding at the same house concern for thy welfare, to have no acquaint- with me, and at my expense. Knowing that ance with them." As I seemed at first not to I had that money of Vernon's, he was continuthink so ill of them as she did, she mentioned ally borrowing of me, still promising repaysome things she had observed and heard that ment, as soon as he should be in business. At had escaped my notice, but now convinced me length he had got so much of it, that I was she was right. I thanked her for her kind ad- distressed to think what I should do, in case vice, and promised to follow it. When we of being called on to remit it. His drinking arrived at New York, they told me where continued, about which we sometimes quarrelthey lived, and invited me to come and see led: for when a little intoxicated, he was very them, but I avoided it, and it was well I did; irritable. Once, in a boat on the Delaware for the next day the captain missed a silver with some other young men, he refused to row spoon and some other things that had been in his turn: "I will be rowed home," said taken out of his cabin, and knowing that he. "We will not row you," said I. "You these were a couple of strumpets, he got a must," said he, or stay all night on the water, warrant to search their lodgings, found the just as you please." The others said, "Let stolen goods, and had the thieves punished.us row, what signifies it?" But my mind being So, though we had escaped a sunken rock, which we scraped upon in the passage, I thought this escape of rather more importance to me. At New York I found my friend Collins, who had arrived 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 lived in Boston, most of my hours of leisure for conversation were spent with him, and he continued a sober as well as industrious lad; soured with his other conduct, I continued to refuse. So he swore he would make me row, or throw me overboard; and coming along stepping on the thwarts towards me, when he came up and struck at me, I clapt my hand under his thighs, 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 pulled her out of his reach, and whenever he drew near the boat, we asked him if he would row, striking a few strokes to slide her away from him. He was ready to stifle with vexa tion, and obstinately would not promise to row. | being becalmed off Block Island, our crew Finding him at last beginning to tire, we drew employed themselves in catching cod, and him into the boat, and brought him home drip- hauled up a great number. Till then I had ping wet. We hardly exchanged a civil word stuck to my resolution to eat nothing that had after this adventure. At length a West India had life; and on this occasion I considered, captain, who had a commission to procure a according to my master Tryon, the taking preceptor for the sons of a gentleman at Bar-every fish, as a kind of unprovoked murder, badoes, met with him, and proposed to carry since none of them had nor could do us any him thither to fill that situation. He accept- injury that might justify this massacre. All ed, and promised to remit me what he owed this seemed very reasonable. But I had been me out of the first money he should receive; formerly a great lover of fish, and when it came but I never heard of him after. The viola- out of the frying-pan it smelt admirably well. tion of my trust, respecting Vernon's money, I balanced some time between principle and was one of the first great errata of my life; inclination, till, recollecting that when fish and this shewed that my father was not much were opened I saw smaller fish taken out of out in his judgment, when he considered me their stomachs; then thought I, "If you eat one as too young to manage business. But sir another, I don't see why we may not eat you." William, on reading his letter, said he was So I dined upon cod very heartily, and have too prudent, that there was a great difference since continued to eat as other people; returnin persons; and discretion did not always ac- ing only now and then occasionally to a vegecompany years, nor was youth always without table diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a it. "But since he will not set you up, I will do reasonable creature, since it enables one to it myself. Give me an inventory of the things find or make a reason for every thing one has necessary to be had from England, and I will a mind to do. send for them. You shall repay me when Keimer and I lived on a pretty good familiar you are able; I am resolved to have a good footing, and agreed tolerably well; for he sus printer here, and I am sure you must suc-pected nothing of my setting up. He retainceed." This was spoken with such an appear- ed a great deal of his old enthusiasm, and ance of cordiality, that I had not the least loved argumentation. We therefore had many doubt of his meaning what he said. I had disputations. I used to work him so with my hitherto kept the proposition of my setting Socratic method, and had trepanned him so up a secret in Philadelphia, and I still kept often by questions apparently so distant from it. Had it been known that I depended on any point we had in hand, yet by degress leadthe governor, probably some friend that knew ing to the point, and bringing him into diffihim better, would have advised me not to re-culties and contradictions, that at last he grew ly 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 believed him one of the best men in the world. ridiculously cautious, and would hardly answer me the most common questions, 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 colI presented him an inventory of a little league in a project he had of setting up a new printing house, amounting by my computation sect. He was to preach the doctrines, and I to about one hundred pounds sterling. He was to confound all opponents. When he liked it, but asked me if my being on the spot came to explain with me upon the doctrines, in England to choose the types, and see that I found several conundrums, which I objected every thing was good of the kind, might not to, unless I might have my way a little too, be of some advantage; then," said he, and introduce some of mine. Keimer wore "when there you may make acquaintance, and his beard at full length, because somewhere establish cerrespondences in the bookselling in the Mosaic law, it is said, "Thou shalt not and stationary way." I agreed, that this might mar the corners of thy beard." He likewise be advantageous. "Then," said he, "get kept the seventh day Sabbath; and these two yourself ready to go with Annis;" which was points were essential with him. I disliked the annual ship, and the only one at that time both; but agreed to them on condition of his usually passing between London and Phila- adopting the doctrine of not using animal food. delphia. But as it would be some months be- I doubt, said he, my constitution will not bear fore Annis sailed, I continued working with it. I assured him it would, and that he would Keimer, fretting extremely about the money be the better for it. He was usually a great Collins had got from me, and in great appre-eater, and I wished to give myself some dihensions of being called upon for it by Vernon; version in half starving him. He consented this however did not happen for some years after. I believe I have omitted mentioning, that in my first voyage from Boston to Philadelphia, to try the practice if I would keep him company: I did so, and we held it for three months. Our provisions were purchased, cooked, and brought to us regularly by a wo |