the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第13节
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best laws were of his planning and passed during his administration。
Ralph and I were inseparable companions。 We took lodgings together
in Little Britain at three shillings and sixpence a week as much as we
could then afford。 He found some relations； but they were poor； and
unable to assist him。 He now let me know his intentions of remaining in
London； and that he never meant to return to Philadelphia。 He had brought
no money with him； the whole he could muster having been expended in
paying his passage。 I had fifteen pistoles； so he borrowed occasionally of
me to subsist； while he was looking out for business。 He first endeavored
to get into the playhouse； believing himself qualify'd for an actor； but
Wilkes； to whom he apply'd； advis'd him candidly not to think of that
employment； as it was impossible be should succeed in it。 Then he
propos'd to Roberts； a publisher in Paternoster Row； to write for him a
weekly paper like the Spectator； on certain conditions； which Roberts did
not approve。 Then he endeavored to get employment as a hackney writer；
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to copy for the stationers and lawyers about the Temple； but could find no
vacancy。
I immediately got into work at Palmer's； then a famous printing…house
in Bartholomew Close； and here I continu'd near a year。 I was pretty
diligent； but spent with Ralph a good deal of my earnings in going to plays
and other places of amusement。 We had together consumed all my pistoles；
and now just rubbed on from hand to mouth。 He seem'd quite to forget his
wife and child； and I； by degrees； my engagements with Miss Read； to
whom I never wrote more than one letter； and that was to let her know I
was not likely soon to return。 This was another of the great errata of my
life； which I should wish to correct if I were to live it over again。 In fact；
by our expenses； I was constantly kept unable to pay my passage。
At Palmer's I was employed in composing for the second edition of
Wollaston's 〃Religion of Nature。〃 Some of his reasonings not appearing to
me well founded； I wrote a little metaphysical piece in which I made
remarks on them。 It was entitled 〃A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity；
Pleasure and Pain。〃 I inscribed it to my friend Ralph； I printed a small
number。 It occasion'd my being more consider'd by Mr。 Palmer as a young
man of some ingenuity； tho' he seriously expostulated with me upon the
principles of my pamphlet； which to him appear'd abominable。 My
printing this pamphlet was another erratum。 While I lodg'd in Little Britain；
I made an acquaintance with one Wilcox； a bookseller； whose shop was at
the next door。 He had an immense collection of second…hand books。
Circulating libraries were not then in use； but we agreed that； on certain
reasonable terms； which I have now forgotten； I might take； read； and
return any of his books。 This I esteem'd a great advantage； and I made as
much use of it as I could。
My pamphlet by some means falling into the hands of one Lyons； a
surgeon； author of a book entitled 〃The Infallibility of Human Judgment；〃
it occasioned an acquaintance between us。 He took great notice of me；
called on me often to converse on those subjects； carried me to the Horns；
a pale alehouse in Lane； Cheapside； and introduced me to Dr。
Mandeville； author of the 〃Fable of the Bees；〃 who had a club there； of
which he was the soul； being a most facetious； entertaining companion。
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Lyons； too； introduced me to Dr。 Pemberton； at Batson's Coffee…house；
who promis'd to give me an opportunity； some time or other； of seeing Sir
Isaac Newton； of which I was extreamely desirous； but this never
happened。
I had brought over a few curiosities； among which the principal was a
purse made of the asbestos； which purifies by fire。 Sir Hans Sloane heard
of it； came to see me； and invited me to his house in Bloomsbury Square；
where he show'd me all his curiosities； and persuaded me to let him add
that to the number； for which he paid me handsomely。
In our house there lodg'd a young woman； a milliner； who； I think； had
a shop in the Cloisters。 She had been genteelly bred； was sensible and
lively； and of most pleasing conversation。 Ralph read plays to her in the
evenings； they grew intimate； she took another lodging； and he followed
her。 They liv'd together some time； but； he being still out of business； and
her income not sufficient to maintain them with her child； he took a
resolution of going from London； to try for a country school； which he
thought himself well qualified to undertake； as he wrote an excellent hand；
and was a master of arithmetic and accounts。 This； however； he deemed a
business below him； and confident of future better fortune； when he
should be unwilling to have it known that he once was so meanly
employed； he changed his name； and did me the honor to assume mine； for
I soon after had a letter from him； acquainting me that he was settled in a
small village （in Berkshire； I think it was； where he taught reading and
writing to ten or a dozen boys； at sixpence each per week）； recommending
Mrs。 T to my care； and desiring me to write to him； directing for Mr。
Franklin； schoolmaster； at such a place。
He continued to write frequently； sending me large specimens of an
epic poem which he was then composing； and desiring my remarks and
corrections。 These I gave him from time to time； but endeavor'd rather to
discourage his proceeding。 One of Young's Satires was then just published。
I copy'd and sent him a great part of it； which set in a strong light the folly
of pursuing the Muses with any hope of advancement by them。 All was in
vain； sheets of the poem continued to come by every post。 In the mean
time； Mrs。 T； having on his account lost her friends and business； was
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often in distresses； and us'd to send for me； and borrow what I could spare
to help her out of them。 I grew fond of her company； and； being at that
time under no religious restraint； and presuming upon my importance to
her； I attempted familiarities （another erratum） which she repuls'd with a
proper resentment； and acquainted him with my behaviour。 This made a
breach between us； and； when he returned again to London； he let me
know he thought I had cancell'd all the obligations he had been under to
me。 So I found I was never to expect his repaying me what I lent to him；
or advanc'd for him。 This； however； was not then of much consequence； as
he was totally unable； and in the loss of his friendship I found myself
relieved from a burthen。 I now began to think of getting a little money
beforehand； and； expecting better work； I left Palmer's to work at Watts's；
near Lincoln's Inn Fields； a still greater printing…house。 Here I continued
all the rest of my stay in London。
At my first admission into this printing…house I took to working at
press； imagining I felt a want of the bodily exercise I had been us'd to in
America； where presswork is mix'd with composing。 I drank only water；
the other workmen； near fifty in number； were great guzzlers of beer。 On
occasion； I carried up and down stairs a large form of types in each hand；
when others carried but one in both hands。 They wondered to see； from
this and several instances； that the Water…American； as they called me； was
stronger than themselves； who drank strong beer！ We had an alehouse boy
who attended always in the house to supply the workmen。 My companion
at the press drank every day a pint before breakfast； a pint at breakfast
with his bread and cheese； a pint between breakfast and dinner； a pint at
dinner； a pint in the afternoon about six o'clock； and another when he had
done
