the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第38节
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yet the great number of the instances in a populous city； and its frequent
repetitions give it weight and consequence； perhaps they will not censure
very severely those who bestow some attention to affairs of this seemingly
low nature。 Human felicity is produc'd not so much by great pieces of
good fortune that seldom happen； as by little advantages that occur every
day。 Thus； if you teach a poor young man to shave himself； and keep his
razor in order； you may contribute more to the happiness of his life than in
giving him a thousand guineas。 The money may be soon spent； the regret
only remaining of having foolishly consumed it； but in the other case； he
escapes the frequent vexation of waiting for barbers； and of their
sometimes dirty fingers； offensive breaths； and dull razors； he shaves
when most convenient to him； and enjoys daily the pleasure of its being
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done with a good instrument。 With these sentiments I have hazarded the
few preceding pages； hoping they may afford hints which some time or
other may be useful to a city I love； having lived many years in it very
happily； and perhaps to some of our towns in America。
Having been for some time employed by the postmaster…general of
America as his comptroller in regulating several offices； and bringing the
officers to account； I was； upon his death in 1753； appointed； jointly with
Mr。 William Hunter； to succeed him； by a commission from the
postmaster…general in England。 The American office never had hitherto
paid any thing to that of Britain。 We were to have six hundred pounds a
year between us； if we could make that sum out of the profits of the office。
To do this； a variety of improvements were necessary； some of these were
inevitably at first expensive； so that in the first four years the office
became above nine hundred pounds in debt to us。 But it soon after began
to repay us； and before I was displac'd by a freak of the ministers； of
which I shall speak hereafter； we had brought it to yield three times as
much clear revenue to the crown as the postoffice of Ireland。 Since that
imprudent transaction； they have receiv'd from it not one farthing！
The business of the postoffice occasion'd my taking a journey this year
to New England； where the College of Cambridge； of their own motion；
presented me with the degree of Master of Arts。 Yale College； in
Connecticut； had before made me a similar compliment。 Thus； without
studying in any college； I came to partake of their honours。 They were
conferr'd in consideration of my improvements and discoveries in the
electric branch of natural philosophy。
In 1754； war with France being again apprehended； a congress of
commissioners from the different colonies was； by an order of the Lords
of Trade； to be assembled at Albany； there to confer with the chiefs of the
Six Nations concerning the means of defending both their country and
ours。 Governor Hamilton； having receiv'd this order； acquainted the House
with it； requesting they would furnish proper presents for the Indians； to be
given on this occasion； and naming the speaker （Mr。 Norris） and myself to
join Mr。 Thomas Penn and Mr。 Secretary Peters as commissioners to act
for Pennsylvania。 The House approv'd the nomination； and provided the
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goods for the present； and tho' they did not much like treating out of the
provinces； and we met the other commissioners at Albany about the
middle of June。
In our way thither； I projected and drew a plan for the union of all the
colonies under one government； so far as might be necessary for defense；
and other important general purposes。 As we pass'd thro' New York； I had
there shown my project to Mr。 James Alexander and Mr。 Kennedy； two
gentlemen of great knowledge in public affairs； and； being fortified by
their approbation； I ventur'd to lay it before the Congress。 It then appeared
that several of the commissioners had form'd plans of the same kind。 A
previous question was first taken； whether a union should be established；
which pass'd in the affirmative unanimously。 A committee was then
appointed； one member from each colony； to consider the several plans
and report。 Mine happen'd to be preferr'd； and； with a few amendments；
was accordingly reported。
By this plan the general government was to be administered by a
president…general； appointed and supported by the crown； and a grand
council was to be chosen by the representatives of the people of the
several colonies； met in their respective assemblies。 The debates upon it in
Congress went on daily； hand in hand with the Indian business。 Many
objections and difficulties were started； but at length they were all
overcome； and the plan was unanimously agreed to； and copies ordered to
be transmitted to the Board of Trade and to the assemblies of the several
provinces。 Its fate was singular： the assemblies did not adopt it； as they all
thought there was too much prerogative in it； and in England it was judg'd
to have too much of the democratic。
The Board of Trade therefore did not approve of it； nor recommend it
for the approbation of his majesty； but another scheme was form'd；
supposed to answer the same purpose better； whereby the governors of the
provinces； with some members of their respective councils； were to meet
and order the raising of troops； building of forts； etc。； and to draw on the
treasury of Great Britain for the expense； which was afterwards to be
refunded by an act of Parliament laying a tax on America。 My plan； with
my reasons in support of it； is to be found among my political papers that
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are printed。
Being the winter following in Boston； I had much conversation with
Governor Shirley upon both the plans。 Part of what passed between us on
the occasion may also be seen among those papers。 The different and
contrary reasons of dislike to my plan makes me suspect that it was really
the true medium； and I am still of opinion it would have been happy for
both sides the water if it had been adopted。 The colonies； so united； would
have been sufficiently strong to have defended themselves； there would
then have been no need of troops from England； of course； the subsequent
pretence for taxing America； and the bloody contest it occasioned； would
have been avoided。 But such mistakes are not new； history is full of the
errors of states and princes。
Look round the habitable world； how few Know their own good； or；
knowing it； pursue！
Those who govern； having much business on their hands； do not
generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into
execution new projects。 The best public measures are therefore seldom
adopted from previous wisdom； but forc'd by the occasion。
The Governor of Pennsylvania； in sending it down to the Assembly；
express'd his approbation of the plan； 〃as appearing to him to be drawn up
with great clearness and strength of judgment； and therefore recommended
it as well worthy of their closest and most serious attention。〃 The House；
however； by the management of a certain member； took it up when I
happen'd to be absent； which I thought not very fair； and reprobated it
without paying any attention to it at all； to my no small mortification。
In my journey to Boston this year； I met at New York with our new
governor； Mr。 Morris； just arriv'd there from England； with whom I had
been before intimately acquainted。 He brought a commission to supersede
Mr。 Hamilton； who； tir'd with the disputes his proprietary instructions
subjected him to； had resign'd。 Mr。 Mor
