the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第36节
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strangers。 He was zealous and active in endeavouring to procure
subscriptions for it； but the proposal being a novelty in America； and at
first not well understood； he met with but small success。
At length he came to me with the compliment that he found there was
no such thing as carrying a public…spirited project through without my
being concern'd in it。 〃For；〃 says he； 〃I am often ask'd by those to whom I
propose subscribing； Have you consulted Franklin upon 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 of it。〃 I enquired into the nature and probable utility of his
scheme； and receiving from him a very satisfactory explanation； I not only
subscrib'd to it myself； but engag'd heartily in the design of procuring
subscriptions from others。 Previously； 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
he 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 propos'd to petition for it；
which was done。 The country members did not at first relish the project；
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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 approv'd 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 considered as a
most extravagant supposition； and utterly impossible。
On this I form'd 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 the said
contributors shall have met and chosen their managers and treasurer； and
shall have raised by their contributions a capital stock of … value （the
yearly interest of which is to be applied to the accommodating of the sick
poor in the said hospital； free of charge for diet； attendance； advice； and
medicines）； and shall make the same appear to the satisfaction of the
speaker of the Assembly for the time being； that then it shall and may be
lawful for the said speaker； and be is hereby required； to sign an order on
the provincial treasurer for the payment of two thousand pounds； in two
yearly payments； to the treasurer of the said hospital； to be applied to the
founding； building； and finishing of the same。〃
This condition carried the bill through； for the members； who had
oppos'd the grant； and now conceiv'd they might have the credit of being
charitable without the expence； agreed to its passage； and then； in
soliciting subscriptions among the people； we urg'd the conditional
promise of the law as an additional motive to give； since every man's
donation would be doubled； thus the clause work'd both ways。 The
subscriptions accordingly soon exceeded the requisite sum； and we claim'd
and receiv'd the public gift； which enabled us to carry the design into
execution。 A convenient and handsome building was soon erected； the
institution has by constant experience been found useful； and flourishes to
this day； and I do not remember any of my political manoeuvres； the
success of which gave me at the time more pleasure； or wherein； after
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thinking of it； I more easily excus'd myself for having made some use of
cunning。
It was about this time that another projector； the Rev。 Gilbert Tennent；
came to me with a request that I would assist him in procuring a
subscription for erecting a new meeting…house。 It was to he for the use of a
congregation he had gathered among the Presbyterians； who were
originally disciples of Mr。 Whitefield。 Unwilling to make myself
disagreeable to my fellow…citizens by too frequently soliciting their
contributions； I absolutely refus'd。 He then desired I would furnish him
with a list of the names of persons I knew by experience to be generous
and public…spirited。 I thought it would be unbecoming in me； after their
kind compliance with my solicitations； to mark them out to be worried by
other beggars； and therefore refus'd also to give such a list。 He then desir'd
I would at least give him my advice。 〃That I will readily do；〃 said I； 〃and；
in the first place； I advise you to apply to all those whom you know will
give something； next； to those whom you are uncertain whether they will
give any thing or not； and show them the list of those who have given； and；
lastly； do not neglect those who you are sure will give nothing； for in some
of them you may be mistaken。〃 He laugh'd and thank'd me； and said he
would take my advice。 He did so； for he ask'd of everybody； and he
obtained a much larger sum than he expected； with which he erected the
capacious and very elegant meeting…house that stands in Arch…street。
Our city； tho' laid out with a beautiful regularity； the streets large； strait；
and crossing each other at right angles； had the disgrace of suffering those
streets to remain long unpav'd； and in wet weather the wheels of heavy
carriages plough'd them into a quagmire； so that it was difficult to cross
them； and in dry weather the dust was offensive。 I had liv'd near what was
call'd the Jersey Market； and saw with pain the inhabitants wading in mud
while purchasing their provisions。 A strip of ground down the middle of
that market was at length pav'd with brick； so that； being once in the
market； they had firm footing； but were often over shoes in dirt to get there。
By talking and writing on the subject； I was at length instrumental in
getting the street pav'd with stone between the market and the brick'd foot…
pavement； that was on each side next the houses。 This； for some time；
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gave an easy access to the market dry…shod； but； the rest of the street not
being pav'd； whenever a carriage came out of the mud upon this pavement；
it shook off and left its dirt upon it； and it was soon cover'd with mire；
which was not remov'd； the city as yet having no scavengers。
After some inquiry I found a poor industrious man； who was willing to
undertake keeping the pavement clean； by sweeping it twice a week；
carrying off the dirt from before all the neighbours' doors； for the sum of
sixpence per month； to be paid by each house。 I then wrote and printed a
paper setting forth the advantages to the neighbourhood that might be
obtain'd by this small expense； the greater ease in keeping our houses
clean； so much dirt not being brought in by people's feet； the benefit to the
shops by more custom； etc。； etc。； as buyers could more easily get at them；
and by not having； in windy weather； the dust blown in upon their goods；
etc。； etc。 I sent one of these papers to each house； and in a day or two went
round to see who would subscribe an agreement to pay these sixpences； it
was unanimously sign'd； and for a time well executed。 All the inhabitants
of the city were delighted with the cleanliness of the pavement that
surrounded the market； it being a conve
