the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第23节
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Englishmen be made not only to respect； but even to love you。 When they
think well of individuals in your native country； they will go nearer to
thinking well of your country； and when your countrymen see themselves
well thought of by Englishmen； they will go nearer to thinking well of
England。 Extend your views even further； do not stop at those who speak
the English tongue； but after having settled so many points in nature and
politics； think of bettering the whole race of men。 As I have not read any
part of the life in question； but know only the character that lived it； I write
somewhat at hazard。 I am sure； however； that the life and the treatise I
allude to （on the Art of Virtue） will necessarily fulfil the chief of my
expectations； and still more so if you take up the measure of suiting these
performances to the several views above stated。 Should they even prove
unsuccessful in all that a sanguine admirer of yours hopes from them； you
will at least have framed pieces to interest the human mind； and whoever
gives a feeling of pleasure that is innocent to man； has added so much to
the fair side of a life otherwise too much darkened by anxiety and too
much injured by pain。 In the hope； therefore； that you will listen to the
prayer addressed to you in this letter； I beg to subscribe myself； my dearest
sir； etc。； etc。；
〃Signed； BENJ。 VAUGHAN。〃
Continuation of the Account of my Life； begun at Passy； near Paris；
1784。
It is some time since I receiv'd the above letters； but I have been too
busy till now to think of complying with the request they contain。 It might；
too； be much better done if I were at home among my papers； which
would aid my memory； and help to ascertain dates； but my return being
uncertain and having just now a little leisure； I will endeavor to recollect
and write what I can； if I live to get home； it may there be corrected and
improv'd。
Not having any copy here of what is already written； I know not
whether an account is given of the means I used to establish the
Philadelphia public library； which； from a small beginning； is now become
so considerable； though I remember to have come down to near the time of
that transaction （1730）。 I will therefore begin here with an account of it；
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which may be struck out if found to have been already given。
At the time I establish'd myself in Pennsylvania； there was not a good
bookseller's shop in any of the colonies to the southward of Boston。 In
New York and Philad'a the printers were indeed stationers； they sold only
paper； etc。； almanacs； ballads； and a few common school…books。 Those
who lov'd reading were oblig'd to send for their books from England； the
members of the Junto had each a few。 We had left the alehouse； where we
first met； and hired a room to hold our club in。 I propos'd that we should
all of us bring our books to that room； where they would not only be ready
to consult in our conferences； but become a common benefit； each of us
being at liberty to borrow such as he wish'd to read at home。 This was
accordingly done； and for some time contented us。
Finding the advantage of this little collection； I propos'd to render the
benefit from books more common； by commencing a public subscription
library。 I drew a sketch of the plan and rules that would be necessary； and
got a skilful conveyancer； Mr。 Charles Brockden； to put the whole in form
of articles of agreement to be subscribed； by which each subscriber
engag'd to pay a certain sum down for the first purchase of books； and an
annual contribution for increasing them。 So few were the readers at that
time in Philadelphia； and the majority of us so poor； that I was not able；
with great industry； to find more than fifty persons； mostly young
tradesmen； willing to pay down for this purpose forty shillings each； and
ten shillings per annum。 On this little fund we began。 The books were
imported； the library wag opened one day in the week for lending to the
subscribers； on their promissory notes to pay double the value if not duly
returned。 The institution soon manifested its utility； was imitated by other
towns； and in other provinces。 The libraries were augmented by donations；
reading became fashionable； and our people； having no publick
amusements to divert their attention from study； became better acquainted
with books； and in a few years were observ'd by strangers to be better
instructed and more intelligent than people of the same rank generally are
in other countries。
When we were about to sign the above…mentioned articles； which were
to be binding upon us； our heirs； etc。； for fifty years； Mr。 Brockden； the
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scrivener； said to us； 〃You are young men； but it is scarcely probable that
any of you will live to see the expiration of the term fix'd in the
instrument。〃 A number of us； however； are yet living； but the instrument
was after a few years rendered null by a charter that incorporated and gave
perpetuity to the company。
The objections and reluctances I met with in soliciting the
subscriptions； made me soon feel the impropriety of presenting one's self
as the proposer of any useful project； that might be suppos'd to raise one's
reputation in the smallest degree above that of one's neighbors； when one
has need of their assistance to accomplish that project。 I therefore put
myself as much as I could out of sight； and stated it as a scheme of a
number of friends； who had requested me to go about and propose it to
such as they thought lovers of reading。 In this way my affair went on more
smoothly； and I ever after practis'd it on such occasions； and； from my
frequent successes； can heartily recommend it。 The present little sacrifice
of your vanity will afterwards be amply repaid。 If it remains a while
uncertain to whom the merit belongs； some one more vain than yourself
will be encouraged to claim it； and then even envy will be disposed to do
you justice by plucking those assumed feathers； and restoring them to their
right owner。
This library afforded me the means of improvement by constant study；
for which I set apart an hour or two each day； and thus repair'd in some
degree the loss of the learned education my father once intended for me。
Reading was the only amusement I allow'd myself。 I spent no time in
taverns； games； or frolicks of any kind； and my industry in my business
continu'd as indefatigable as it was necessary。 I was indebted for my
printing…house； I had a young family coming on to be educated； and I had
to contend with for business two printers； who were established in the
place before me。 My circumstances； however； grew daily easier。 My
original habits of frugality continuing； and my father having； among his
instructions to me when a boy； frequently repeated a proverb of Solomon；
〃Seest thou a man diligent in his calling； he shall stand before kings； he
shall not stand before mean men；〃 I from thence considered industry as a
means of obtaining wealth and distinction； which encourag'd me； tho' I did
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not think that I should ever literally stand before kings； which； however；
has since happened； for I have stood before five； and even had the honor
of sitting down with one； the King of Denmark； to dinner。
We have an English proverb that says； 〃He that would thrive； must ask
his wife。〃 It was lucky for me that I had one as much dispos'd to industry
and frugality as myself。 She assisted me cheerfully in my business； folding
and stitching pamphlets； tending shop； purchasing old linen rags for the
papermakers； etc。； etc。 We kept no idle servants； our tabl
