the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第42节
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proceeding； and endeavoring to recover some of the lost honour； he
ordered all the stores； ammunition； etc。； to be destroy'd； that he might have
more horses to assist his flight towards the settlements； and less lumber to
remove。 He was there met with requests from the governors of Virginia；
Maryland； and Pennsylvania； that he would post his troops on the frontiers；
so as to afford some protection to the inhabitants； but he continu'd his
hasty march thro' all the country； not thinking himself safe till he arriv'd at
Philadelphia； where the inhabitants could protect him。 This whole
transaction gave us Americans the first suspicion that our exalted ideas of
the prowess of British regulars had not been well founded。
In their first march； too； from their landing till they got beyond the
settlements； they had plundered and stripped the inhabitants； totally
ruining some poor families； besides insulting； abusing； and confining the
people if they remonstrated。 This was enough to put us out of conceit of
such defenders； if we had really wanted any。 How different was the
conduct of our French friends in 1781； who； during a march thro' the most
inhabited part of our country from Rhode Island to Virginia； near seven
hundred miles； occasioned not the smallest complaint for the loss of a pig；
a chicken； or even an apple。
Captain Orme； who was one of the general's aids…de…camp； and； being
grievously wounded； was brought off with him； and continu'd with him to
his death； which happen'd in a few days； told me that he was totally silent
all the first day； and at night only said； 〃Who would have thought it？〃 That
he was silent again the following day； saying only at last； 〃We shall better
know how to deal with them another time；〃 and dy'd in a few minutes
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after。
The secretary's papers； with all the general's orders； instructions； and
correspondence； falling into the enemy's hands； they selected and
translated into French a number of the articles； which they printed； to
prove the hostile intentions of the British court before the declaration of
war。 Among these I saw some letters of the general to the ministry；
speaking highly of the great service I had rendered the army； and
recommending me to their notice。 David Hume； too； who was some years
after secretary to Lord Hertford； when minister in France； and afterward to
General Conway； when secretary of state； told me he had seen among the
papers in that office； letters from Braddock highly recommending me。 But；
the expedition having been unfortunate； my service； it seems； was not
thought of much value； for those recommendations were never of any use
to me。
As to rewards from himself； I ask'd only one； which was； that he
would give orders to his officers not to enlist any more of our bought
servants； and that he would discharge such as had been already enlisted。
This he readily granted； and several were accordingly return'd to their
masters； on my application。 Dunbar； when the command devolv'd on him；
was not so generous。 He being at Philadelphia； on his retreat； or rather
flight； I apply'd to him for the discharge of the servants of three poor
farmers of Lancaster county that he had enlisted； reminding him of the late
general's orders on that bead。 He promised me that； if the masters would
come to him at Trenton； where he should be in a few days on his march to
New York； he would there deliver their men to them。 They accordingly
were at the expense and trouble of going to Trenton； and there he refus'd to
perform his promise； to their great loss and disappointment。
As soon as the loss of the waggons and horses was generally known；
all the owners came upon me for the valuation which I had given bond to
pay。 Their demands gave me a great deal of trouble； my acquainting them
that the money was ready in the paymaster's hands； but that orders for
paying it must first be obtained from General Shirley； and my assuring
them that I had apply'd to that general by letter； but； he being at a distance；
an answer could not soon be receiv'd； and they must have patience； all this
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was not sufficient to satisfy； and some began to sue me。 General Shirley at
length relieved me from this terrible situation by appointing
commissioners to examine the claims； and ordering payment。 They
amounted to near twenty thousand pound； which to pay would have ruined
me。
Before we had the news of this defeat； the two Doctors Bond came to
me with a subscription paper for raising money to defray the expense of a
grand firework； which it was intended to exhibit at a rejoicing on receipt
of the news of our taking Fort Duquesne。 I looked grave； and said it would；
I thought； be time enough to prepare for the rejoicing when we knew we
should have occasion to rejoice。 They seem'd surpris'd that I did not
immediately comply with their proposal。 〃Why the dl！〃 says one of them；
〃you surely don't suppose that the fort will not be taken？〃 〃I don't know
that it will not be taken； but I know that the events of war are subject to
great uncertainty。〃 I gave them the reasons of my doubting； the
subscription was dropt； and the projectors thereby missed the mortification
they would have undergone if the firework had been prepared。 Dr。 Bond；
on some other occasion afterward； said that he did not like Franklin's
forebodings。
Governor Morris； who had continually worried the Assembly with
message after message before the defeat of Braddock； to beat them into
the making of acts to raise money for the defense of the province； without
taxing； among others； the proprietary estates； and had rejected all their
bills for not having such an exempting clause； now redoubled his attacks
with more hope of success； the danger and necessity being greater。 The
Assembly； however； continu'd firm； believing they had justice on their side；
and that it would be giving up an essential right if they suffered the
governor to amend their money…bills。 In one of the last； indeed； which was
for granting fifty thousand pounds； his propos'd amendment was only of a
single word。 The bill expressed 〃that all estates； real and personal； were to
be taxed； those of the proprietaries not excepted。〃 His amendment was； for
not read only： a small； but very material alteration。 However； when the
news of this disaster reached England； our friends there； whom we had
taken care to furnish with all the Assembly's answers to the governor's
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messages； rais'd a clamor against the proprietaries for their meanness and
injustice in giving their governor such instructions； some going so far as to
say that； by obstructing the defense of their province； they forfeited their
right to it。 They were intimidated by this； and sent orders to their receiver…
general to add five thousand pounds of their money to whatever sum
might be given by the Assembly for such purpose。
This； being notified to the House； was accepted in lieu of their share of
a general tax； and a new bill was form'd； with an exempting clause； which
passed accordingly。 By this act I was appointed one of the commissioners
for disposing of the money； sixty thousand pounds。 I had been active in
modelling the bill and procuring its passage； and had； at the same time；
drawn a bill for establishing and disciplining of a voluntary militia； which
I carried thro' the House without much difficulty； as care was taken in it to
leave the Quakers at their liberty。 To promote the association necessary to
form the militia； I wrote a dialogue； stating and answering all the
objections I could think of to such a militia； w
