colonel; but conceiving myself unfit, I de- | advised me to resign, as more consistent with clined that station, and recommended Mr. my honour than being turned out. My anLawrence, a fine person, and a man of in-swer to him was, that I had read or heard of fluence, who was accordingly appointed. I some public man, who made it a rule, never then proposed a lottery to defray the expense of building a battery below the town, and furnished with cannon: it filled expeditiously, and the battery was soon erected, the merlons being framed of logs and filled with earth. We bought some old cannon from Boston, but these not being sufficient, we wrote to London for more; soliciting at the same time our proprietaries for some assistance, though without much expectation of obtaining it. Meanwhile, colonel Lawrence, Allen, Abraham Taylor, Esquires, and myself, were sent to New York by the associators, commissioned to borrow some cannon of governor Clinton. He at first refused us peremptorily; but at a dinner with his council, where there was great drinking of madeira wine, as the custom of that place then was, he softened by degrees, and said he would lend us six. After a few more bumpers he advanced to ten; and at length he very good-naturedly conceded eighteen. They were fine cannon, 18 pounders, with their carriages, which were soon transported and mounted on our batteries, where the associators kept a nightly guard while the war lasted and among the rest, I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common soldier.

My activity in these operations was agreeable to the governor and council; they took me into confidence, and I was consulted by them in every measure, where their concurrence was thought useful to the association. Calling in the aid of religion, I proposed to them the proclaiming a fast, to promote reformation, and implore the blessing of heaven on our undertaking. They embraced the motion, but as it was the first fast ever thought of in the province, the secretary had no precedent from which to draw the proclamation. My education in New England, where a fast is proclaimed every year, was here of some advantage: I drew it in the accustomed style, it was translated into German, printed in both languages, and circulated through the province. This gave the clergy of the different sects an opportunity of influencing their congregations to join in the association, and it would probably have been general among al. but the Quakers, if the peace had not soon intervened.

It was thought by some of my friends, that by my activity in these affairs, I should offend that sect, and thereby lose my interest in the assembly of the province, where they formed a great majority. A young man who had likewise some friends in the assembly, and wished to succeed me as their clerk, acquainted me that it was decided to displace me at the next election; and he through good will

to ask for an office, and never to refuse one
when offered to him. I approve, said I, of
this rule, and shall practise it with a small
addition; I shall never ask, never refuse, nor
ever RESIGN an office. If they will have my
office of clerk to dispose of it to another, they
shall take it from me. I will not, by giving
it up, lose my right of some time or other
making reprisal on my adversaries. I heard
however no more of this: I was chosen again
unanimously as clerk at the next election.
Possibly as they disliked my late intimacy
with the members of council who had joined
the governors in all the disputes about mili- ·
tary preparations, with which the house had
long been harassed, they might have been
pleased if I would voluntarily have left them;
but they did not care to displace me on ac-
count merely of my zeal for the association,
and they could not well give another reason.
Indeed I had some cause to believe that the
defence of the country was not disagreeable
to any of them, provided they were not re-
quired to assist in it. And I found that a
much greater number of them than I could
have imagined, though against offensive
war, were clearly for the defensive. Many
pamphlets pro and con were published on the
subject, and some by good Quakers, in favour
of defence; which I believe convinced most
of their young people. A transaction in our
fire company gave me some insight into their
prevailing sentiments. It had been proposed
that we should encourage the scheme for
building a battery by laying out the present
stock, then about sixty pounds, in tickets of
the lottery. By our rules no money could be
disposed of till the next meeting after the
proposal. The company consisted of thirty
members, of which twenty-two were Quakers,
and eight only of other persuasions. We
eight punctually attended the meeting; but
though we thought that some of the Quakers
would join us, we were by no means sure of
a majority. Only one Quaker, Mr. James
Morris, appeared to oppose the measure. Ile
expressed much sorrow that it had ever been
proposed, as he said friends were all against
it, and it would create such discord as might
break up the company. We told him that
we saw no reason for that; we were the
minority, and if friends were against the
measure, and out-voted us, we must and
should, agreeable to the usage of all societies,
submit. When the hour for business arrived,
it was moved to put this to the vote: he al-
lowed we might do it by the rules, but as he
could assure us that a number of members
intended to be present for the purpose of op-
posing it, it would be but candid to allow a

they were utter strangers. I told him this had always been the case with new sects, and that to put a stop to such abuse, I imagined it might be well to publish the articles of their belief, and the rules of their discipline. He said that it had been proposed ainong them, but not agreed to for this reason: "When we were first drawn together as a society, (said he,) it had pleased God to enlighten our minds so far as to see that some doctrines, which were esteemed truths, were errors; and that others which we have esteemed errors, were real truths. From time to time he has been pleased to afford us farther light, and our principles have been improving, and our errors diminishing: now, we are not sure that we are arrived at the end of this progression, and at the perfection of spiritual or theological knowledge; and we fear that if we should once print our confession of faith, we should feel ourselves as if bound and confined by it, and perhaps be unwilling to receive further improvement; and our successors still more so, as conceiving what their elders and founders had done, to be something sacred, never to be departed Peace being concluded, and the association from." This modesty in a sect, is perhaps a business therefore at an end, I turned my singular instance in the history of mankind, thoughts again to the affair of establishing an every other sect supposing itself in possession academy. The first step I took was to asso of all truth, and that those who differ, are so ciate in the design a number of active friends, far in the wrong: like a man travelling in of whom the Junto furnished a good part: the foggy weather; those at some distance before next was to write and publish a pamphlet, him on the road he sees wrapt up in the fog, entitled, "Proposals relating to the Educaas well as those behind him, and also the peo- tion of Youth in Pennsylvania." This I ple in the fields on each side; but near him distributed among the principal inhabitants all appear clear; though in truth, he is as gratis: and as soon as I could suppose their much in the fog as any of them. To avoid minds a little prepared by the perusal of it, I this kind of embarrassinent, the Quakers have set on foot a subscription for opening and supof late years been gradually declining the pub-porting an academy; it was to be paid in lic service in the assembly and in the magis tracy, choosing rather to quit their power than their principle.

with the construction of this stove as described in it, that he offered to give me a patent for the sole vending of them for a term of years; but I declined it, from a principle which has ever weighed with me on such occasions, viz: That as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously.

An ironmonger in London, however, assuming a good deal of my pamphlet, and working it up into his own, and making some small changes in the machine, which rather hurt its operation, got a patent for it there, and made, as I was told, a little fortune by it. And this is not the only instance of patents taken out of my inventions by others, though not always with the same success; which I never contested, as having no desire of profiting by patents myself, and hating disputes. The use of these fire places in very many houses, both here in Pennsylvania, and the neighbouring states, has been, and is, a great · saving of wood to the inhabitants.

In order of time, I should have mentioned before, that having, in 1742, invented an open stove for the better warming of rooms, and at the same time saving fuel, as the fresh air admitted was warmed in entering, I made a present of the model to Mr. Robert Grace, one of my early friends, who having an iron furnace, found the casting of the plates for these stoves a profitable thing, as they were growing in demand. To promote that demand, I wrote and published a pamphlet, entitled, "An Account of the new-invented Pennsylvania Fire Places; wherein their construction and manner of operation is particularly explained, their advantages above every method of warming rooms demonstrated; and all objections that have been raised against the use of them, answered and obviated, &c." * This pamphlet had a good effect; governor Thomas was so pleased

*Sec Papers on Philosophical Subjects.

quotas yearly for five years; by so dividing it I judged the subscription might be larger; and I believe it was so, amounting to no less, if I remember right, than five thousand pounds.

In the introduction to these proposals, I stated their publication not as an act of mine, but of some public-spirited gentlemen; avoiding as much as I could, according to my usual rule, the presenting myself to the public as the author of any scheme for their benefit.

The subscribers, to carry the project into immediate execution, chose out of their num ber twenty-four trustees, and appointed Mr. Francis, then attorney-general, and myself, to draw up constitutions for the government of the academy; which being done and signed, a house was hired, masters engaged, and the schools opened; I think in the same year 1749.

The scholars increasing fast, the house was soon found too small, and we were looking out for a piece of ground, properly situated, with intent to build, when accident threw into our way a large house ready built, which,

with a few alterations, might well serve our | printing office, paying me punctually my purpose: this was the building beforemen- share of the profits. This partnership contioned, erected by the hearers of Mr. White-tinued eighteen years, successfully for us field, and was obtained for us in the following both.

manner.

The trustees of the academy after a while,

country.

It is to be noted, that the contributions to were incorporated by a charter from the gothis building being made by people of differ-vernor; their funds were increased by conent sects, care was taken in the nomination tributions in Britain, and grants of land from of trustees, in whom the building and ground the proprietaries, to which the assembly has were to be vested, that a predominancy should since made considerable addition; and thus not be given to any sect, lest in time that pre- was established the present university of dominancy might be a means of appropriating Philadelphia. I have been continued one of the whole to the use of such sect, contrary.to its trustees from the beginning, (now near the original intention; it was for this reason forty years,) and have had the very great that one of each sect was appointed; viz. one pleasure of seeing a number of the youth who Church of England man, one Presbyterian, have received their education in it, distinone Baptist, one Moravian, &c., who, in case guished by their improved abilities, serviceof vacancy by death, were to fill it by elec-able in public stations, and ornaments to their tion among the contributors. The Moravian happened not to please his colleagues, and on When I was disengaged myself, as abovehis death they resolved to have no other of mentioned, from private business, I flattered that sect; the difficulty then was, how to myself that by the sufficient, though moderate avoid having two of some other sect, by means fortune I had acquired, I had found leisure of the new choice. Several persons were during the rest of my life for philosophical named, and for that reason not agreed to: at studies and amusements. I purchased all Dr. length one mentioned me, with the observa- Spence's apparatus, who had come from Engtion, that I was merely an honest man, and land to lecture in Philadelphia, and I proof no sect at all, which prevailed with them ceeded in my electrical experiments with to choose me. The enthusiasm which existed great alacrity; but the public now considerwhen the house was built, had long since ing me as a man of leisure, laid hold of me abated, and its trustees had not been able to for their purposes; every part of our civil go procure fresh contributions for paying the vernment, and almost at the same time, imground rent, and discharging some other posing some duty upon me. The governor debts the building had occasioned, which em- put me into the commission of the peace; the barrassed them greatly. Being now a mem- corporation of the city chose me one of the ber of both boards of trustees, that for the common council, and soon after alderman, building, and that for the academy, I had a and the citizens at large elected me a burgess good opportunity of negociating with both, to represent them in assembly; this latter staand brought them finally to an agreement, by tion was the more agreeable to me, as I grew which the trustees for the building were to at length tired with sitting there to hear the cede it to those of the academy; the latter debates, in which as clerk I could take no undertaking to discharge the debt, to keep part; and which were often so uninteresting, for ever open in the building a large hall for that I was induced to amuse myself with occasional preachers, according to the origi-making magic squares or circles,* or any nal intention, and maintain a free school for thing to avoid weariness; and I conceived my the instruction of poor children. Writings becoming a member, would enlarge my power were accordingly drawn; and on paying the of doing good. I would not, however, insinudebts, the trustees of the academy were putate that my ambition was not flattered by all in possession of the premises; and by dividing these promotions: it certainly was; for, conthe great and lofty hall into stories, and difsidering my low beginning, they were great ferent rooms above and below for the several schools, and purchasing some additional ground, the whole was soon made fit for our purpose, and the scholars removed into the building. The whole care and trouble of agreeing with the workmen, purchasing materials, and superintending the work, fell upon me, and I went through it the more cheerfully, as it did not then interfere with my private business; having the year before taken a very able, industrious, and honest partner, Mr. David Hall, with whose character I was well acquainted, as he had worked for me four years; he took off my hands all care of the

things to me: and they were still more pleasing, as being so many spontaneous testin.onies of the public good opinion, and by me entirely unsolicited.

The office of justice of the peace I tried a little, by attending a few courts, and sitting on the bench to hear causes; but finding that more knowledge of the common law than 1 possessed was necessary to act in that station with credit, I gradually withdrew from it; excusing myself by my being obliged to attend the higher duties of a legislator in the * See several of these, in " Papers on Subjects of Pkitosophy & "

assembly. My election to this trust was re- In 1751, Dr. Thomas Bond, a particular peated every year for ten years, without my friend of mine, conceived the idea of esta ever asking any elector for his vote, or signi-blishing a hospital in Philadelphia, (a very fying either directly or indirectly any desire of being chosen. On taking my seat in the house, my son was appointed their clerk.

beneficent design, which has been ascribed to me, but was originally and truly his,) for the reception and cure of poor sick persons, whe ther inhabitants of the province, or strangers He was zealous and active in ende our.ng to procure subscriptions for it; but the proposal being a novelty in America, and at first not well understood, he met but with little success. At length he came to me with the compliment, that he found there was no such a thing as carrying a public-spirited project through without my being concerned in it. "For," said he, "I am often asked by those to whom I propose subscribing, Have you consulted Franklin on this business! And what does he think of it? And when I tell them that I have not, (supposing it rather out of your line,) they do not subscribe, but say, they will consider it." I inquired into the nature and probable utility of the scheme, and receiving from him a very satisfactory explanation, I not only subscribed to it myself, but engaged heartily in the design of procuring subscriptions from others: previous however to the solicitation, I endeavoured to prepare the minds of the people, by writing on the subject in the newspapers, which was my usual custom in such cases, but which Dr. Bond had omitted. The subscriptions afterwards were more free and generous; but beginning to flag, I saw they would be insufficient, without some assistance from the assembly, and therefore proposed to petition for it; which was done. The country members did not at first relish the project: they objected that it could only be serviceable to the city, and therefore the citizens alone should be at the expense of it; and they doubted whether the citizens themselves generally approved of it. My allegation on the contrary, that it met with such approbation as to leave no doubt of our being able to raise two thousand pounds by voluntary donations, they consider

The year following, a treaty being to be held with the Indians at Carlisle, the governor sent a message to the house, proposing that they should nominate some of their members, to be joined with some members of council, as commissioners for that purpose. The house named the speaker (Mr. Norris) and myself; and being commissioned, we went to Carlisle, anl met the Indians accordingly. As those people are extremely apt to get drunk, and when so are very quarrelsome and disorderly, we strictly forbade the selling any liquor to them; and when they complained of this restriction, we told them, that if they would continue sober during the treaty, we would give them plenty of rum when the business was over. They promised this, and they kept their promise, because they could get no rum; and the treaty was conducted very orderly, and concluded to mutual satisfaction. They then claimed and received the rum; this was in the afternoon; they were near one hundred men, women, and children, and were lodged in temporary cabins, built in the form of a square, just without the town. In the evening, hearing a great noise among them, the commissioners walked to see what was the matter; we found they had made a great bonfire in the middle of the square: they were all drunk, men and women, quarreling and fighting. Their dark-coloured bodies, halfnaked, seen only by the gloomy light of the bonfire, running after and beating one another with firebrands, accompanied by their horrid yellings, formed a scene the most resembling our ideas of hell that could well be imagined; there was no appeasing the tumult, and we retired to our lodging. At midnight a number of them came thundering at our door, demanding more rum, of which we took no notice. The next day, sensible they had mis-ed as a most extravagant supposition, and behaved in giving us that disturbance, they sent three of their old counsellors to make their apology. The orator acknowledged the fault, but laid it upon the rum; and then endeavoured to excuse the rum, by saying, "The Great Spirit, who made all things, made every thing for some use, and whatever use he designed any thing for, that use it should always be put to: now, when he made rum, he said, 'LET THIS BE FOR THE INDIANS TO GET DRUNK WITH;' and it must be so." "the said contributors shall have met and And, indeed, if it be the design of Providence to extirpate these savages, in order to make room for the cultivators of the earth, it seems not impossible that rum may be the appointed means. It has already annihilated all the tribes who formerly inhabited the sea coast. VOL. I....G

5

utterly impossible. On this I formed my plan; and asking leave to bring in a bill for incorporating the contributors according to the prayer of their petition, and granting them a blank sum of money; which leave was obtained chiefly on the consideration, that the house could throw the bill out if they did not like it, I drew it so as to make the important clause a conditional one, viz: "And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that when

chosen their managers and treasurer, and shall have raised by their contributions a capital stock of two thousand pounds value, (the yearly interest of which is to be applied to the accommodation of the sick poor in the said hospital, and of charge for diet, attend