Project Gutenberg's Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by Benjamin Franklin This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Author: Benjamin Franklin Editor: Frank Woodworth Pine Illustrator: E. Boyd Smith Release Date: December 28, 2006 [EBook #20203] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN *** Produced by Turgut Dincer, Brian Sogard and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
FRANKLIN ARMS
FRANKLIN SEAL
"Hewastherefore,feastedandinvtiedtoallthecourtparties.Atthesehesometimesmettheold DuchessofBourbon,who,beingachessplayerofabouthisforce,theyverygenerallyplayedtogether. Happeningoncetoputherkingintoprize,theDoctortookit.'Ah,'saysshe,'wedonottakekingsso'.'We doinAmeirca',saidtheDoctor".—THOMASJEFFERSON A U T O B I O G R A P H Y OF B E N J A M I N F R A N K L I N WITH ILLUSTRATIONS by E. BOYD SMITH, EDITED by FRANK WOODWORTH PINE
NewYork HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 1916 C OPY IR GH , T 1916, BY HENRY HOLTAND COMPANY June, 1922 THE QUINN & BODEN CO. PRESS RAHWAY, N. J. CONTENTS P AGE I NTRODUCTION vii T HE A UTOIBOGRAPHY 1 I.AncesrtyandEalryLfieinBoston 3 II.BeginningLifeasaPrinter 21 II.IArirvalinPhliadelphia 41 IVFirstVistitoBoston 55 . V. Early Friends in Philadelphia 69 V.IFirstVistitoLondon 77 V.IIBeginningBusinessinPhiladelphia 99 VII.IBusinessSuccessandFristPubilcService 126 IX.PlanforAttainingMoralPefreciton 146 X. Poor Richard's Almanac and Other Activities 169 X.IInterestinPublicAffairs 188 XI.IDefenseoftheProvince 201 XIII.PubilcServicesandDuites 217 XIV. Albany Plan of Union 241 XV. Quarrels with the Proprietary Governors 246 XV.IBraddock'sExpedtiion 253 XVI.IFrankiln'sDefenseoftheFroniter 274 XVIII.ScientificExpeirments 289 XIX. Agent of Pennsylvania in London 296 A PPENDXI ElectircalKite 327 TheWaytoWeatlh 331 The Whistle 336 ALettertoSamuelMather 340 B BIILOGRAPHY 343 ILLUSTRATIONS F RANKLIN AT THE C OURT OF L OUSI XVI Fronitspiece "Hewastherefore,feastedandinvitedtoallthecourtparites.Atthesehe sometimes met the old Duchess of Bourbon, who, being a chess player of about his force, they very generally played together. Happening once to put her king into prize, theDoctortookit.'Ah,'saysshe',wedonottakekingsso'.'WedoinAmerica,'said the Doctor."—THOMAS JEFFERSON PAGE PotrraitofFrankiln v ii Pages 1 and 4 of ThePennsylvaniaGazette ,NumberXL,theifrstnumberatferFrankiln took control xxi First page of The New England Courant of December 4-11, 1721 33 "Iwasemployedtocarrythepapersthro'thesrteetstothecustomers" 36 "She,standingatthedoo,rsawme,andthoughItmade,asIcertainlydid,amostawkward, irdiculousappearance" 48 "I took to working at press" 88 "IseehimstlliatworkwhenIgohomefromclub" 120 Two pages from Poor Richard's Almanac for 1736 171 I"regularlytookmyturnofdutythereasacommonsoldier" 204 "Intheevening,heairngagreatnoiseamongthem,thecommissionerswalk'douttosee what was the matter" 224 "Ouraxes...wereimmediatelysettoworktocutdownrtees" 278 "We now appeared very wide, and so far from each other in our opinions as to discourage allhopeofagreement" 318 "Youwlilifndtisrteamoutplentifullyfromthekeyontheapproachofyourknuckle" 328 Father Abraham in his study 330 Theendpapersshow,atthefront,theFranklinarmsandtheFrankilnsea;lattheback,the medalgivenbytheBostonpublicschoolsrfomthefundletfbyFranklinforthatpurpose asprovidedinthefollowingexrtactrfomhiswill: "IwasborninBoston,NewEngland,andowemyfristinsrtucitonsintileraturetothefree grammar-schoolsestabilshedthere.Ithereforegiveonehundredpoundsstelringtomy executors,tobebythem...paidovertothemanagersordriectorsofthefreeschoolsinmy naitvetownofBoston,tobebythem...putouttointerest,andsoconitnuedatinterest foreve,rwhichinterestannuallyshallbelaidoutinslivermedals,andgivenashonorary rewards annually by the directors of the said free schools belonging to the said town, in suchmannerastothediscretionoftheselectmenofthesaidtownshallseemmee".t
Fromanengraivngby.JThomsonrfomtheoirginalpictureby.JA.Duplessis. INTRODUCTION EAmericansdevoureagelryanypieceofwrtiingthatpurpotrstotellusthesecretofsuccessin file;yethowoftenwearedisappointedtoifndnothingbutcommonplacestatements,orreceipts thatweknowbyheartbutneverfollow.Mostofthelfiestoriesofourfamousandsuccessfulmen failtoinspirebecausetheylackthehumanelementthatmakestherecordrealandbringsthestory wtihinourgrasp.WhilewearesearchingfarandnearforsomeAladdin'sLamptogivecovetedfotrune,there isreadyatourhandifwewillonlyreachoutandtaketi,ilkethecharminMtlion'sComus , "Unknown,andilkeesteemed,andthedullswain Treadsontidaliywithhiscloutedshoon"; theinteresting,human,andvividlytoldstoryofoneofthewisestandmostusefulilvesinourownhistor,yand perhaps in any history. In Franklin's Autobiography is offered not so much a ready-made formula for success, asthecompanionshipofareallfeshandbloodmanofexrtaordinarymindandquailty,whosedaliywalkand conversaitonwillhelpustomeetourowndfiifcuitles,muchasdoestheexampleofawiseandstrongfirend. Whliewearefascinatedbythestory,weabsorbthehumanexperiencethroughwhichastrongandhelpful characteirsbuilding. The thing that makes Franklin's Autobiography differentfromeveryothelrifestoryofagreatandsuccessful manisjustthishumanaspectoftheaccoun.tFrankilntoldthestoryofhislife,ashehimseflsays,forthe beneftiofhispostetiry.Hewantedtohelpthembytherelationofhisownirserfomobscurityandpovetryto eminenceandweatlh.Heisnotunmindfuloftheimpotranceofhispublicservicesandtheirrecogntiion,yet hisaccountsoftheseachievementsaregivenonlyasapartotfhestor,yandthevanitydisplayedisincidental andinkeepingwiththehonestyotfherecital.Thereisnothingotfheimpossibleinthemethodandpracitceof Frankilnashesetsthemforth.TheyouthwhoreadsthefascinaitngstoryisastonishedtofindthatFranklinin hisearlyyearssrtuggledwtihthesameeverydaypassionsanddifficutliesthathehimseflexpeirences,and helosesthesenseofdiscouragementthatcomesfromareailzaitonofhisownshortcomingsandinablitiyto attain. There are other reasons why the Autobiography shouldbeaninitmatefirendofAmericanyoungpeople. HeretheymayestabilshacloserelaitonshipwithoneoftheforemostAmeircansaswellasoneofthewisest men of his age. ThelifeofBenjaminFranklinisofimpotrancetoeveryAmericanprimarliybecauseofthepatrheplayedin secuirngtheindependenceoftheUnitedStatesandinestabilshingitasanaiton.Franklinshareswtih WashingtonthehonorsoftheRevoluiton,andoftheeventsleadingtothebirthofthenewnaiton.Whlie Washingtonwastheanimatingspiirtofthesrtuggleinthecolonies,Frankilnwasitsablestchampionabroad. ToFranklin'scogentreasoningandkeensaitre,weowetheclearandforciblepresentationoftheAmeircan caseinEnglandandFrance;whlietohispersonalityanddiplomacyaswellastohisfacilepen,weare indebtedfortheforeignalilanceandthefundswithoutwhichWashington'sworkmusthavefalied.His paitence,fotitrude,andpracticalwisdom,coupledwithsefl-sacriifcingdevoitontothecauseofhiscounrty, arehardlylessnoticeablethansimilarqualiitesdisplayedbyWashington.Infac,tFrankilnasapublicman wasmuchilkeWashington,especiallyintheenitredisinterestednessofhispublicservice. Franklinisalsointeresitngtousbecausebyhislifeandteachingshehasdonemorethananyother Americantoadvancethematerialprospetiryofhiscountrymen.Itissaidthathiswidelyandfaithfullyread maximsmadePhiladelphiaandPennsylvaniawealth,ywhliePoorRichard'spithysayings,rtanslatedinto many languages, have had a world-wide influence. FranklinisagoodtypeofourAmeircanmanhood.Atlhoughnotthewealthiestorthemostpowerful,heis undoubtedly,intheversaittilyofhisgeniusandachievements,thegreatestofoursel-fmademen.Thesimple yet graphic story in the Autobiography ofhissteadyriserfomhumbleboyhoodinatallow-chandlershop,by industry,econom,yandperseveranceinsei-flmprovement,toeminence,isthemostremarkableofallthe remarkablehistoriesofoursefl-mademen.tIisintiselfawonderfulillusrtaitonoftheresutlspossibletobe attainedinalandofunequaledopportunitybyfollowingFranklin'smaxims. Franklin'sfame,howeve,rwasnotconifnedtohisowncountr.yAtlhoughheilvedinacenturynotableforthe rapidevoluitonofscientiifcandpoitilcalthoughtandacitvit,yyetnolessakeenjudgeandctiricthanLord Jeffrey, the famous editor of the Edinburgh Review , a century ago said that "in one point of view the name of Franklinmustbeconsideredasstandinghigherthananyoftheotherswhichillusrtatedtheeighteenthcentur.y Distinguishedasastatesman,hewasequallygreatasaphilosopher,thusuntiinginhimselfararedegreeof excellenceinboththesepursutist,oexcelinetiherofwhichisdeemedthehighestpraise." Franklinhasindeedbeenapltycalled"many-sided."Hewaseminentinscienceandpubilcservice,in diplomacyandinilterature.HewastheEdisonofhisda,yturninghisscientfiicdiscoveriestothebenefitof hisfellow-men.Heperceivedtheidenittyoflightningandelecrtictiyandsetupthelightningrod.Heinvented theFrankilnstove,sitllwidelyused,andrefusedtopatentti.Hepossessedamasterlyshrewdnessin businessandpracitcalaffairs.CalrylecalledhimthefatherofalltheYankees.Hefoundedafirecompan,y assistedinfoundingahosptial,andimprovedthecleaningandilghitngofstreets.Hedevelopedjournailsm, estabilshedtheAmericanPhliosophicalSociety,thepublicilbraryinPhiladelphia,andtheUniverstiyof Pennsylvania.Heorganizedapostalsystemforthecolonies,whichwasthebasisofthepresentUntied StatesPostOffice.Bancrofttheeminenthistoirancalledhim"thereatestdilomatistofhiscentur."He
pefrectedtheAlbanyPlanofUnionforthecolonies.HeistheonlystatesmanwhosignedtheDeclaraitonof Independence,theTreatyofAlilancewtihFrance,theTreatyofPeacewtihEngland,andtheConsittuiton.As awtirer,hehasproduced,inhisAutobiography and in Poor Richard's Almanac , two works that are not surpassedbysimliarwrtiing.HereceivedhonorarydegreesfromHarvardandYale,fromOxfordandSt. Andrews,andwasmadeafellowoftheRoyalSociety,whichawardedhimtheCopleygoldmedalfor improvingnaturalknowledge.HewasoneotfheeightforeignassociatesoftheFrenchAcademyofScience. The careful study of the Autobiography isalsovaluablebecauseofthestyleinwhichitiswtirten.fIRobert Louis Stevenson is right in believing that his remarkable style was acquired by imitation then the youth who wouldgainthepowertoexpresshisideasclealr,yforcibl,yandinteresitnglycannotdobetterthantostudy Franklin'smethod.Franklin'sfameinthescientiifcwolrdwasduealmostasmuchtohismodest,simple,and sinceremannerofpresentinghisdiscoveiresandtotheprecisionandclearnessofthestyleinwhichhe describedhisexpeirments,astotheresutlshewasabletoannounce.SirHumphryDavy,thecelebrated Engilshchemist,himselfanexcellentltierarycriticaswellasagreatscienits,tsaid:"Asingularfeilctiyguided allFrankiln'sresearches,andbyverysmallmeansheestablishedverygrandrtuths.Thestyleandmannerof hispublicationonelecirtctiyarealmostaswotrhyofadmiraitonasthedoctirneticontains." Franklin'splaceinltieratureishardtodeterminebecausehewasnotpirmaliryatileraryman.Hisaiminhis wirtingsasinhislfieworkwastobehelpfultohisfellow-men.Forhimwtiringwasneveranendinitself,but alwaysameanstoanend.Yethissuccessasascientist,astatesman,andadiploma,taswellassociall,y wasinnoilttlepartduetohisabliityasawrtier."Hisletterscharmedall,andmadehiscorrespondence eagelrysough.tHispoilitcalargumentswerethejoyofhispartyandthedreadofhisopponents.Hisscientfiic discoveireswereexplainedinlanguageatoncesosimpleandsoclearthatplow-boyandexquisitecould follow his thought or his experiment to its conclusion." [ 1] AsfarasAmericanilteratureisconcerned,Frankilnhasnocontemporaires.BeforetheAutobiography only oneliteraryworkofimpotrancehadbeenproducedinthiscountry—CottonMathe'rsMagnalia , a church historyofNewEnglandinaponderous,stffistyle.FranklinwasthefirstAmericanauthortogainawideand permanenrteputaitoninEurope.TheAutobiography , Poor Richard , Father Abraham's Speech or The Way toWeatlh , as well as some of the Bagatelles ,areaswidelyknownabroadasanyAmeircanwritings.Franklin mustalsobeclassedastheifrstAmeircanhumorist. Englishtileratureoftheeighteenthcenturywascharacteirzedbythedevelopmentofprose.Peirodical literaturereacheditspefrecitonearlyinthecenturyinThe Tatler and The Spectator of Addison and Steele. Pamphleteersflouirshedthroughouttheperiod.ThehomeilerproseofBunyanandDefoegraduallygave placetothemoreelegantandarfiticiallanguageofSamuelJohnson,whosetthestandardforprosewiritng from 1745 onward. This century saw the beginnings of the modern novel, in Fielding's Tom Jones , Richardson's ClairssaHalrowe , Sterne's TirstramShandy ,andGoldsmtih'sVicar of Wakefield . Gibbon wrote TheDeclineandFalloftheRomanEmpire , Hume his History of England ,andAdamSmtihthe WealthofNaitons . InthesimplicityandvigorofhisstyleFrankilnmorenealryresemblestheearilergroupofwirters.Inhisifrst essayshewasnotaninfeirorimtiatorofAddisonI.nhisnumerousparables,moralallegoires,andapologues heshowedBunyan'sinfluence.ButFranklinwasessenitallyajournalist.Inhisswitf,tersestyle,heismostilke Defoe,whowasthefirstgreatEngilshjournalistandmasterofthenewspapernarraitve.Thestyleofboth wrtiersismarkedbyhomely,vigorousexpression,satire,burlesque,repartee.Herethecomparisonmust end.Defoeandhiscontemporarieswereauthors.Theirvocaitonwaswiritngandtheirsuccessrestsonthe imaginaitveorcreativepowertheydisplayed.ToauthorshipFrankilnlaidnoclaim.Hewrotenoworkofthe imagination.HedevelopedonlyincidentallyastyleinmanyrespectsasremarkableasthatofhisEngilsh contemporaries. He wrote the best autobiography in existence, one of the most widely known collections of maxims,andanunsurpassedseiresofpoliticalandsocialsatires,becausehewasamanofunusualscope ofpowerandusefulness,whoknewhowtotellhisfellow-menthesecretsotfhatpowerandthatusefulness. T HE S TORY O F TH E A UTOIBOGRAPHY TheaccountofhowFrankiln'sAutobiography cametobewttirenandoftheadventuresoftheoriginal manuscirpftormsinitselfaninterestingstor.yTheAutobiography is Franklin's longest work, and yet it is only arfagmen.tThefirstpart,writtenasalettertohisson,WililamFrankiln,wasnotintendedforpublication;and thecompositionismoreinformalandthenarrativemorepersonalthaninthesecondpart,from1730on, whichwaswrtitenwithaviewtopublication.Theenitremanuscriptshowstillteevidenceofrevision.Infac,t theexpressionissohomelyandnaturalthathisgrandson,WilliamTempleFrankiln,ineditingthework changed some of the phrases because he thought them inelegant and vulgar. Frankilnbeganthestoryofhislifewhileonavisittohisfriend,BishopShipley,atTwyford,inHampshire, southernEngland,in1771.Hetookthemanuscrip,tcompletedto1731,withhimwhenhereturnedto Philadelphiain1775I.twaslefttherewtihhisotherpaperswhenhewenttoFranceinthefollowingyear,and disappearedduirngtheconfusionincidenttotheRevoluiton.Twentyt-hreepagesofcloselywtirtenmanuscript fellintothehandsofAbelJames,anoldirfend,whosentacopytoFranklinatPass,ynearPairs,urginghim tocompletethestor.yFranklintookuptheworkatPassyin1784andcarriedthenarrativeforwardafew months.Hechangedtheplantomeethisnewpurposeofwrtiingtobenefittheyoungreade.rHisworkwas sooninterruptedandwasnotresumedunitl1788,whenhewasathomeinPhliadelphia.Hewasnowold, inifrm,andsuffeirng,andwassitllengagedinpublicservice.Underthesediscouragingconditionsthework progressedslowly.Itfinallystoppedwhenthenarrativereachedtheyear1757.Copiesofthemanuscript weresenttofirendsofFrankilninEnglandandFrance,amongotherstoMonsieurLeVelliardatParis. ThefirstedtiionoftheAutobiography waspubilshedinFrenchatParisin1791.Itwasclumsilyand carelesslyrtanslated,andwasimpefrectandunfinished.Wherethertanslatorgotthemanuscirptisnot known.LeVeillarddisclaimedanyknowledgeofthepublication.FromthisfautlyFrenchedtiionmanyothers wereprinted,someinGerman,ytwoinEngland,andanotherinFrance,sogreatwasthedemandforthe work. InthemeantimetheoirginalmanuscriptoftheAutobiography hadstatredonavairedandadventurous caree.rtIwasleftbyFranklinwithhisotherworkstohisgrandson,WilliamTempleFranklin,whomFranklin designatedashisilteraryexecutor.WhenTempleFrankilncametopublishhisgrandfathe'rsworksin1817, hesenttheoirginalmanuscriptoftheAutobiography to the daughter of Le Veillard in exchange for her father'scopy,probablythinkingtheclearertranscriptwouldmakebetterprinter'scopy.Theoirginal manuscirptthusfoundtiswaytotheLeVeillardfamilyandconnections,wheretiremaineduntlisoldin1867 toM.rJohnBigelow,UnitedStatesMinistertoFrance.ByhimitwaslatersoldtoMr.E.DwightChurchof NewYork,andpassedwiththerestofM.rChurch'slibraryintothepossessionofM.rHenryE.Hunitngton.The originalmanuscirptofFranklin'sAutobiography nowrestsinthevautlinMr.Huntington'sresidenceatFtfih AvenueandFfity-seventhSrtee,tNewYorkCti.y When Mr. Bigelow came to examine his purchase, he was astonished to find that what people had been readingforyearsastheauthenitcLfieofBenjaminFranklinbyHimself , was only a garbled and incomplete version of the real Autobiography .TempleFrankilnhadtakenunwarrantedilbeitreswtihtheorigina.lM.r Bigelowsayshefoundmorethantwelvehundredchangesinthetext.In1868,therefore,M.rBigelow publishedthestandardediitonofFrankiln'sAutobiography .Itcorrectederrorsinthepreviouseditionsand wasthefirstEnglishedtiiontocontaintheshortfoutrhpa,trcomprisingthelastfewpagesofthemanuscrip,t wirttenduringthelastyearofFranklin'slife.Mr.BigelowrepublishedtheAutobiography , with additional interesitngmatte,rinthreevolumesin1875,in1905,andin1910.ThetextinthisvolumeisthatofMr. Bigelow'sedtiions. [2] The Autobiography hasbeenreprintedintheUntiedStatesmanyscoresoftimesandtranslatedintoallthe languagesofEurope.tIhasnevelrostitspopularityandisstlilinconstantdemandatcirculaitngilbraires.The reasonforthispopulatiryisnotfartoseek.ForinthisworkFrankilntoldinaremarkablemannerthestoryofa remarkablefile.Hedisplayedhardcommonsenseandapracticalknowledgeoftheartolfiving.Heselected andarrangedhismateira,lperhapsunconsciousl,ywtihtheunerirnginsitnctofthejournailstforthebest effects.Hissuccessisnotalittleduetohisplain,clea,rvigorousEngilsh.Heusedshotrsentencesand words,homelyexpressions,aptillustrations,andpointedallusions.Franklinhadamostinteresitng,varied, andunusualilfe.Hewasoneofthegreatestconversationalistsofhistime. HisbookistherecordofthatunusuallifetoldinFrankiln'sownunexcelledconversaitonalstyle.tIissaidthat thebestpartsofBoswell'sfamousbiographyofSamuelJohnsonarethosepatrswhereBoswellpermits Johnsontotellhisownstor.yIntheAutobiography a no less remarkable man and talker than Samuel Johnsonisteillnghisownstorythroughout. F. W. P. THE GILMAN COUNTRY SCHOOL , Batlimore,Septembe,r1916.
Pages 1 and 4 of ThePennsylvaniaGazette ,thefristnumberatferFranklintookconrtol.Reducednealryone-hal.f Reproduced from a copy at the New York Public Library. [1] TheMany-SidedFrankiln. Paul L. Ford. [2] For the division into chapters and the chapter ltit es, however, the present editor is responsible. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN I ANCESTRY AND EARLY YOUTH IN BOSTON T WYFORD , [3] attheBishopofS.tAsaph's , 1771. EARSON:Ihaveeverhadpleasureinobtaininganyilltteanecdotesofmyancestors.Youmay remembertheinquiriesImadeamongtheremainsofmyrelationswhenyouwerewtihmein England,andthejourneyIundertookforthatpurpose.Imaginingtimaybeequallyagreeableto youtoknowthecircumstancesofmyilfe,manyofwhichyouareyetunacquaintedwith,and expectingtheenjoymentofaweek'suninterruptedleisureinmypresentcountryretirement,Isitdowntowirte themforyou.TowhichIhavebesidessomeotherinducements.Havingemergedfromthepovetryand obscuirtyinwhichIwasbornandbred,toastateofaffluenceandsomedegreeofreputationinthewolrd, andhavinggonesofarthroughfilewtihaconsiderableshareoffeilcity,theconducingmeansImadeuseo,f whichwiththeblessingofGodsowellsucceeded,myposteritymayliketoknow,astheymayfindsomeof themsutiabletotheirownstiuaitons,andthereforeftitobeimitated. Thatfeilcit,ywhenIrelfectedon,tihasinducedmesometimestosay,thatwereitofferedtomychoice,I shouldhavenoobjecitontoarepetitionofthesameliferfomitsbeginning,onlyaskingtheadvantages authorshaveinasecondediitontocorrectsomefautlsofthefirst.SoImigh,tbesidescorrectingthefaults, changesomesinisteraccidentsandeventsoftiforothersmorefavourable.Butthoughthisweredenied,I shouldsitllaccepttheoffe.rSincesucharepeititonisnottobeexpected,thenextthingmostilkelivingone's ilfeoveragainseemstobearecollectionotfhatlfie,andtomakethatrecollecitonasdurableaspossibleby puttingtidowninwriting. Hereby,too,Ishalilndulgetheinclinationsonaturalinoldmen,tobetalkingofthemselvesandtheirownpast actions;andIshallindulgeitwithoutbeingitresometoothers,who,throughrespecttoage,mightconceive themselvesobilgedtogivemeahearing,sincethismaybereadornotasanyonepleases.And,lastly(Imay aswellconfessti,sincemydenialoftiwillbebeilevedbynobody),perhapsIshallagooddealgratifymyown vantiy [ . 4 ] Indeed, I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words, " WtihoutvanityImaysay ," etc., but somevainthingimmediatelyfollowed.Mostpeopledisilkevanityinothers,whateversharetheyhaveofti themselves;butIgiveitfairquatrerwhereverImeetwithit,beingpersuadedthatitisoftenproductiveofgood tothepossessor,andtoothersthatarewithinhissphereofaciton;andtherefore,inmanycases,itwouldnot bealtogetherabsurdifamanweretothankGodforhisvantiyamongtheothercomfortsofilfe. GibbonandHume,thegreatBtirishhistoirans,whowerecontemporairesofFrankiln,expressintheir autobiographiesthesamefeelingaboutthepropiretyofjustsel-fpraise. AndnowIspeakofthankingGod,IdesirewithallhumlitiytoacknowledgethatIowethemenitoned happinessofmypastfiletoHiskindprovidence,whichleadmetothemeansIusedandgavethemsuccess. My belief of this induces me to hope , though I must not presume ,thatthesamegoodnesswillsitllbe exercisedtowardme,inconitnuingthathappiness,orenablingmetobearafatalreverse,whichImay experience as others have done; the complexion of my future fortune being known to Him only in whose poweritistoblesstousevenourafflictions. Thenotesoneofmyuncles(whohadthesamekindofcuriosityincollecitngfamliyanecdotes)onceputinto myhands,furnishedmewithseveralparitcularsrelaitngtoourancestors.FromthesenotesIlearnedthatthe famliyhadilvedinthesamevillage,Ecton,inNotrhamptonshire, [5] for three hundred years, and how much longerheknewnot(perhapsrfomthetimewhenthenameofFranklin,thatbeforewasthenameofanorder of people [ , 6] wasassumedbythemasasurnamewhenotherstooksurnamesalloverthekingdom,)ona freeholdofaboutthitryacres,aidedbythesmith'sbusiness,whichhadcontinuedinthefamilyitllhistime,the eldest son being always bred to that business; a custom which he and my father followed as to their eldest sons.WhenIsearchedtheregistersatEcton,Ifoundanaccountoftheirbirths,mariragesandbuiralsrfom theyear1555only,therebeingnoregisterskeptinthatpairshatanytimepreceding.BythatregisterI perceivedthatIwastheyoungestsonotfheyoungestsonforifvegeneraitonsback.MygrandfatherThomas, whowasbornin1598,livedatEctontllihegrewtoooldtofollowbusinesslonge,rwhenhewenttoilvewtih his son John, a dyer at Banbury, in Oxfordshire, with whom my father served an apprenticeship. There my grandfather died and lies buried. We saw his gravestone in 1758. His eldest son Thomas lived in the house atEcton,andletftiwiththelandtohisonlychild,adaughter,who,wtihherhusband,oneFisher,of Wellingborough,soldittoM.rIsted,nowlordofthemanorthere.Mygrandfatherhadfoursonsthatgrewup, viz.:Thomas,John,BenjaminandJosiah.IwillgiveyouwhataccountIcanofthematthisdistancerfommy papers,andfithesearenotlostinmyabsence,youwlilamongthemifndmanymorepatriculars. Thomaswasbredasmtihunderhisfathe;rbut,beingingenious,andencouragedinlearning(asallmy brotherswere)byanEsquirePalmer,thentheprincipalgentlemaninthatpairsh,hequailifedhimseflforthe businessofscirvene;rbecameaconsiderablemaninthecounty;wasachiefmoverofallpublic-spiirted undertakingsforthecountyortownofNotrhampton,andhisownvillage,ofwhichmanyinstanceswere relatedofhim;andmuchtakennoticeofandpartonizedbythethenLordHailfax.Hediedin1702,January6, old style [ , 7] justfouryearstoadaybeforeIwasborn.Theaccountwereceivedofhisfileandcharacterrfom someoldpeopleatEcton,Iremember,srtuckyouassomethingexrtaordinary,fromitssimliatirytowhatyou knewofmine."Hadhediedonthesameday,"yousaid,"onemighthavesupposedartansmigraiton." Johnwasbredadyer,Ibelieveofwoollens,Benjaminwasbredaslikdyer,servinganapprenitceshipat London.Hewasaningeniousman.Irememberhimwell,forwhenIwasaboyhecameovertomyfatheirn Boston,andlivedinthehousewtihussomeyears.Heilvedtoagreatage.Hisgrandson,SamuelFranklin, nowilvesinBoston.Heleftbehindhimtwoquartovolumes,MS.,ofhisownpoetr,yconsistingofilttle occasionalpiecesaddressedtohisfirendsandrelations,ofwhichthefollowing,senttome,isaspecimen [ . 8] Hehadformedashor-thandofhisown,whichhetaughtme,but,neverpractisingit,Ihavenowforgotti.Iwas namedatferthisuncle,therebeingapatricularaffecitonbetweenhimandmyfather.Hewasverypious,a greatattenderofsermonsofthebestpreachers,whichhetookdowninhisshotr-hand,andhadwithhim manyvolumesofthem.Hewasalsomuchofapoilitcian;toomuch,perhaps,forhisstaiton.Therefelllately intomyhands,inLondon,acollectionhehadmadeofalltheprincipalpamphletsrelatingtopublicaffairs, rfom1641to1717;manyofthevolumesarewantingasappearsbythenumbeirng,buttherestlliremain eightvolumesinfolio,andtwenty-fourinquatroandinoctavo.Adealerinoldbooksmetwiththem,and knowingmebymysomeitmesbuyingofhim,hebroughtthemtome.Itseemsmyunclemusthaveleftthem herewhenhewenttoAmerica,whichwasaboutiftfyyearssince.Therearemanyofhisnotesinthemargins. ThisobscurefamilyofourswasearlyintheReformation,andconitnuedProtestantsthroughthereignof QueenMary,whentheyweresomeitmesindangeroftroubleonaccountoftheirzealagainstpoper.yThey hadgotanEnglishBible,andtoconcealandsecurei,titwasfastenedopenwithtapesunderandwithinthe coverofajoint-stoo.lWhenmygrea-tgrea-tgrandfatherreadittohisfamli,yheturnedupthejoin-tstoolupon hisknees,turningovertheleavesthenunderthetapes.Oneofthechlidrenstoodatthedoortogivenoitcefi hesawtheapparitorcoming,whowasanofifcerofthespiritualcoutr.Inthatcasethestoolwasturneddown again upon its feet, when the Bible remained concealed under it as before. This anecdote I had from my uncleBenjamin.ThefamilyconitnuedalloftheChurchofEnglandtillabouttheendofCharlestheSecond's reign,whensomeoftheministersthathadbeenoutedfornon-conformti,yholdingconvenitcles [9 ] in Northamptonshire,BenjaminandJosiahadheredtothem,andsocontinuedalltheirilves:therestofthe familyremainedwtihtheEpiscopalChurch.
BirthplaceofFrankiln.MilkStreet,Boston. Josiah,myfather,marriedyoung,andcarriedhiswfiewtihthreechildrenintoNewEngland,about1682.The convenitcleshavingbeenforbiddenbylaw,andfrequentlydisturbed,inducedsomeconsiderablemenofhis acquaintance to remove to that country, and he was prevailed with to accompany them thither, where they expectedtoenjoytheirmodeofreilgionwithfreedom.Bythesamewifehehadfourchlidrenmorebornthere, andbyasecondwifetenmorei,nallseventeen;ofwhichIrememberthitreensittingatoneitmeathistable, who all grew up to be men and women, and married; I was the youngest son, and the youngest child but two, and was born in Boston, New England. [10] Mymother,thesecondwife,wasAbiahFolge,rdaughterofPeter Folge,roneofthefirstsettlersofNewEngland,ofwhomhonorablemenitonismadebyCottonMather [ , 11] in hischurchhistoryofthatcounrt,yentltiedMagnailaChirsitAmeircana , as " a godly, learned Englishman ," fi I rememberthewordsrighlty.Ihaveheardthathewrotesundrysmalloccasionalpieces,butonlyoneofthem waspirnted,whichIsawnowmanyyearssince.tIwaswrtitenin1675,inthehome-spunverseofthatitme andpeople,andaddressedtothosethenconcernedinthegovernmentthere.tIwasinfavouroflibertyof conscience,andinbehafloftheBapitsts,Quakers,andothersectairesthathadbeenunderpersecution, ascribingtheIndianwars,andotherdisrtessesthathadbefallenthecountry,tothatpersecuiton,assomany judgmentsofGodtopunishsoheinousanoffense,andexhoritngarepealofthoseunchartiablelaws.The wholeappearedtomeaswtirtenwtihagooddealofdecentplainnessandmanlyfreedom.Thesix concluding lines I remember, though I have forgotten the two first of the stanza; but the purport of them was, thathiscensuresproceededrfomgood-will,and,therefore,hewouldbeknowntobetheautho.r "Because to be a libeller (says he) Ihateitwithmyhear;t From Sherburne town [ , 12 ] where now I dwell My name I do put here; Withoutoffenseyourrealfriend, ItisPeterFolgier". Myelderbrotherswereallputapprenitcestodffierenttrades.Iwasputtothegrammar-schoolateightyears ofage,myfatherintendingtodevoteme,asthettihe [13] ofhissons,totheserviceoftheChurch.Myealry readinessinlearningtoread(whichmusthavebeenveryearly,asIdonotrememberwhenIcouldnotread,) andtheopinionofallhisrfiends,thatIshouldcetrainlymakeagoodscholar,encouragedhiminthispurpose ofhis.MyuncleBenjamin,too,approvedofit,andproposedtogivemeallhisshort-handvolumesof sermons,Isupposeasastocktosetupwtih,ifIwouldlearnhischaracte [ .r 14 ] I continued, however, at the grammar-schoolnotqutieoneyear,thoughinthattimeIhadrisengraduallyrfomthemiddleoftheclassof thatyeartobetheheadofti,andfartherwasremovedintothenextclassabove,tiinordertogowiththatinto thethirdattheendoftheyea.rButmyfathe,rinthemeantime,fromaviewoftheexpenseofacollege educaiton,whichhavingsolargeafamliyhecouldnotwellafford,andthemeanilvingmanysoeducated wereafterwardsabletoobtain—reasonsthathegavetohisfirendsinmyheairng—alteredhisifrsitnteniton, tookmefromthegrammar-school,andsentmetoaschooflorwrtiingandarithmeitc,keptbyathenfamous man,Mr.GeorgeBrownell,verysuccessfulinhisprofessiongenerally,andthatbymlid,encouraging methods.UnderhimIacquiredfairwiritngprettysoon,butIfaliedinthearithmeitc,andmadenoprogressin it.AttenyearsoldIwastakenhometoassistmyfatherinhisbusiness,whichwasthatofatallow-chandler andsope-boile;rabusinesshewasnotbredto,buthadassumedonhisarirvalinNewEngland,andon ifndinghisdyeingrtadewouldnotmaintainhisfamli,ybeinginltilterequest.Accordingly,Iwasemployedin cutitngwickforthecandles,fliilngthedippingmouldandthemouldsforcastcandles,attendingtheshop, going of errands, etc. Idislikedthertade,andhadastronginclinaitonforthesea,butmyfatherdeclaredagainsti;thowever,ilving nearthewateI,rwasmuchinandabouti,tlearntealrytoswimwel,landtomanageboats;andwheninaboat orcanoewtihotherboys,Iwascommonlyallowedtogovern,especiallyinanycaseofdiiffculty;andupon otheroccasionsIwasgenerallyaleaderamongtheboys,andsometimesledthemintoscrapes,ofwhichI willmenitononeinstance,astishowsanearlyprojecitngpublicspiir,ttho'notthenjusltyconducted. Therewasasalt-marshthatboundedpartofthemlli-pond,ontheedgeofwhich,athighwate,rweusedto standtoifshforminnows.Bymuchtrampling,wehadmadetiamerequagmire.Myproposalwastobuilda whafrthereiftforustostandupon,andIshowedmycomradesalargeheapofstones,whichwereintended for a new house near the marsh, and which would very well suit our purpose. Accordingly, in the evening, when theworkmenweregone,Iassembledanumberofmyplayfellows,andworkingwtihthemdliigenltyilkeso manyemmets,sometimestwoorthreetoastone,webroughtthemallawayandbuitloulrlttiewharf.Thenext morningtheworkmenweresurprisedatmissingthestones,whichwerefoundinourwhafrI.nquirywasmade atfertheremovers;wewerediscoveredandcomplainedo;fseveralofuswerecorrectedbyourfathers;and, though I pleaded the usefulness of the work, mine convinced me that nothing was useful which was not honest. Ithinkyoumayilketoknowsomethingofhispersonandcharacter.Hehadanexcellentconsittuitonofbod,y wasofmiddlestature,butwellset,andverystrong;hewasingenious,coulddrawpretitly,wasskliledaltitlein music,andhadaclear,pleasingvoice,sothatwhenheplayedpsalmtunesonhisvioilnandsungwithal,as hesomeitmesdidinaneveningatferthebusinessofthedaywasover,tiwasextremelyagreeabletohea.r He had a mechanical genius too, and, on occasion, was very handy in the use of other tradesmen's tools; but hisgreatexcellencelayinasoundunderstandingandsolidjudgmentinprudenitalmatters,bothinpirvate andpubilckaffairs.Inthelatter,indeed,hewasneveremployed,thenumerousfamliyhehadtoeducateand thesrtaitnessofhiscircumstanceskeepinghimclosetohistrade;butIrememberwellhisbeingfrequently vistiedbyleadingpeople,whoconsultedhimforhisopinioninaffairsofthetownorofthechurchhebelonged to,andshowedagooddealofrespectforhisjudgmentandadvice:hewasalsomuchconsutledbypirvate personsabouttheiraffairswhenanydifficultyoccurred,andfrequentlychosenanarbirtatorbetween contendingpatries.Athistablehelikedtohave,asotfenashecould,somesensiblefirendorneighborto converse with, and always took care to start some ingenious or useful topic for discourse, which might tend to improvethemindsofhischildren.Bythismeansheturnedourattenitontowhatwasgood,jus,tandprudent intheconductofilfe;andltilteornonoticewasevertakenofwhatrelatedtothevictualsonthetable,whether itwaswellorilldressed,inoroutofseason,ofgoodorbadlfavor,preferableorinfeirortothisorthatother thingofthekind,sothatIwasbrot'upinsuchaperfectinattentiontothosemattersastobequiteindfiferent whatkindoffoodwassetbeforeme,andsounobservantofi,tthattothisdayifIamaskedIcanscarcetella fewhoursatferdinnerwhatIdinedupon.Thishasbeenaconveniencetomeintraveling,wheremy companionshavebeensomeitmesveryunhappyforwantofasutiablegratificationoftheirmoredelicate, becausebetterinsrtuctedt,astesandappetties. Mymotherhadilkewiseanexcellentconsittuiton:shesuckledallhertenchlidren.Ineverkneweithermy father or mother to have any sickness but that of which they dy'd, he at 89, and she at 85 years of age. They liebuiredtogetheratBoston,whereIsomeyearssinceplacedamarbleovertheirgrave, [15] with this inscription: JOSIAH FRANKLIN , and ABIAH his wife, lie here interred. They lived lovingly together in wedlock fifty-five years. Withoutanestate,oranygainfulemploymen,t By constant labor and industry, wtihGod'sblessing, Theymaintainedalargefamliy comfortably, andbroughtupthriteenchildren and seven grandchildren reputabl.y Fromthisinstance,reade,r Beencouragedtodiilgenceinthycaillng, And distrust not Providence. He was a pious and prudent man; She, a discreet and virtuous woman. Their oun est son