the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第40节
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return of those he had sent thro' the back parts of Maryland and Virginia to
collect waggons。 I stayed with him several days； din'd with him daily； and
had full opportunity of removing all his prejudices； by the information of
what the Assembly had before his arrival actually done； and were still
willing to do； to facilitate his operations。 When I was about to depart； the
returns of waggons to be obtained were brought in； by which it appear'd
that they amounted only to twenty…five； and not all of those were in
serviceable condition。 The general and all the officers were surpris'd；
declar'd the expedition was then at an end； being impossible； and
exclaim'd against the ministers for ignorantly landing them in a country
destitute of the means of conveying their stores； baggage； etc。； not less
than one hundred and fifty waggons being necessary。
I happened to say I thought it was a pity they had not been landed
rather in Pennsylvania； as in that country almost every farmer had his
waggon。 The general eagerly laid hold of my words； and said； 〃Then you；
sir； who are a man of interest there； can probably procure them for us； and
I beg you will undertake it。〃 I ask'd what terms were to be offer'd the
owners of the waggons； and I was desir'd to put on paper the terms that
appeared to me necessary。 This I did； and they were agreed to； and a
commission and instructions accordingly prepar'd immediately。 What
those terms were will appear in the advertisement I publish'd as soon as I
arriv'd at Lancaster； which being； from the great and sudden effect it
produc'd； a piece of some curiosity； I shall insert it at length； as follows：
〃ADVERTISEMENT。 〃LANCASTER； April 26； 1755。
〃Whereas； one hundred and fifty waggons； with four horses to each
waggon； and fifteen hundred saddle or pack horses； are wanted for the
service of his majesty's forces now about to rendezvous at Will's Creek；
and his excellency General Braddock having been pleased to empower me
to contract for the hire of the same； I hereby give notice that I shall attend
for that purpose at Lancaster from this day to next Wednesday evening；
and at York from next Thursday morning till Friday evening； where I shall
be ready to agree for waggons and teams； or single horses； on the
following terms； viz。： I。 That there shall be paid for each waggon； with
four good horses and a driver； fifteen shillings per diem； and for each able
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horse with a pack…saddle； or other saddle and furniture； two shillings per
diem； and for each able horse without a saddle； eighteen pence per diem。 2。
That the pay commence from the time of their joining the forces at Will's
Creek； which must be on or before the 20th of May ensuing； and that a
reasonable allowance be paid over and above for the time necessary for
their travelling to Will's Creek and home again after their discharge。 3。
Each waggon and team； and every saddle or pack horse； is to be valued by
indifferent persons chosen between me and the owner； and in case of the
loss of any waggon； team； or other horse in the service； the price according
to such valuation is to be allowed and paid。 4。 Seven days' pay is to be
advanced and paid in hand by me to the owner of each waggon and team；
or horse； at the time of contracting； if required； and the remainder to be
paid by General Braddock； or by the paymaster of the army； at the time of
their discharge； or from time to time； as it shall be demanded。 5。 No
drivers of waggons； or persons taking care of the hired horses； are on any
account to be called upon to do the duty of soldiers； or be otherwise
employed than in conducting or taking care of their carriages or horses。 6。
All oats； Indian corn； or other forage that waggons or horses bring to the
camp； more than is necessary for the subsistence of the horses； is to be
taken for the use of the army； and a reasonable price paid for the same。
〃Note。My son； William Franklin； is empowered to enter into like
contracts with any person in Cumberland county。 〃B。 FRANKLIN。〃
〃To the inhabitants of the Counties of Lancaster； York and
Cumberland。
〃Friends and Countrymen；
〃Being occasionally at the camp at Frederic a few days since； I found
the general and officers extremely exasperated on account of their not
being supplied with horses and carriages； which had been expected from
this province； as most able to furnish them； but； through the dissensions
between our governor and Assembly； money had not been provided； nor
any steps taken for that purpose。
〃It was proposed to send an armed force immediately into these
counties； to seize as many of the best carriages and horses as should be
wanted； and compel as many persons into the service as would be
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necessary to drive and take care of them。
〃I apprehended that the progress of British soldiers through these
counties on such an occasion； especially considering the temper they are in；
and their resentment against us； would be attended with many and great
inconveniences to the inhabitants； and therefore more willingly took the
trouble of trying first what might be done by fair and equitable means。 The
people of these back counties have lately complained to the Assembly that
a sufficient currency was wanting； you have an opportunity of receiving
and dividing among you a very considerable sum； for； if the service of this
expedition should continue； as it is more than probable it will； for one
hundred and twenty days； the hire of these waggons and horses will
amount to upward of thirty thousand pounds； which will be paid you in
silver and gold of the king's money。
〃The service will be light and easy； for the army will scarce march
above twelve miles per day； and the waggons and baggage…horses； as they
carry those things that are absolutely necessary to the welfare of the army；
must march with the army； and no faster； and are； for the army's sake；
always placed where they can be most secure； whether in a march or in a
camp。
〃If you are really； as I believe you are； good and loyal subjects to his
majesty； you may now do a most acceptable service； and make it easy to
yourselves； for three or four of such as can not separately spare from the
business of their plantations a waggon and four horses and a driver； may
do it together； one furnishing the waggon； another one or two horses； and
another the driver； and divide the pay proportionately between you； but if
you do not this service to your king and country voluntarily； when such
good pay and reasonable terms are offered to you； your loyalty will be
strongly suspected。 The king's business must be done； so many brave
troops； come so far for your defense； must not stand idle through your
backwardness to do what may be reasonably expected from you； waggons
and horses must be had； violent measures will probably be used； and you
will be left to seek for a recompense where you can find it； and your case；
perhaps； be little pitied or regarded。
〃I have no particular interest in this affair； as； except the satisfaction of
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endeavoring to do good； I shall have only my labour for my pains。 If this
method of obtaining the waggons and horses is not likely to succeed； I am
obliged to send word to the general in fourteen days； and I suppose Sir
John St。 Clair； the hussar； with a body of soldiers； will immediately enter
the province for the purpose； which I shall be sorry to hear； because I am
very sincerely and truly your friend and well…wisher； B。 FRANKLIN。〃
I received of
