the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第44节
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kind of fire； so manag'd； could not discover them； either by its light； flame；
sparks； or even smoke： it appear'd that their number was not great； and it
seems they saw we were too many to be attacked by them with prospect of
advantage。
We had for our chaplain a zealous Presbyterian minister； Mr。 Beatty；
who complained to me that the men did not generally attend his prayers
and exhortations。 When they enlisted； they were promised； besides pay
and provisions； a gill of rum a day； which was punctually serv'd out to
them； half in the morning； and the other half in the evening； and I observ'd
they were as punctual in attending to receive it； upon which I said to Mr。
Beatty； 〃It is； perhaps； below the dignity of your profession to act as
steward of the rum； but if you were to deal it out and only just after
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prayers； you would have them all about you。〃 He liked the tho't； undertook
the office； and； with the help of a few hands to measure out the liquor；
executed it to satisfaction； and never were prayers more generally and
more punctually attended； so that I thought this method preferable to the
punishment inflicted by some military laws for non…attendance on divine
service。
I had hardly finish'd this business； and got my fort well stor'd with
provisions； when I receiv'd a letter from the governor； acquainting me that
he had call'd the Assembly； and wished my attendance there； if the posture
of affairs on the frontiers was such that my remaining there was no longer
necessary。 My friends； too； of the Assembly； pressing me by their letters to
be； if possible； at the meeting； and my three intended forts being now
compleated； and the inhabitants contented to remain on their farms under
that protection； I resolved to return； the more willingly； as a New England
officer； Colonel Clapham； experienced in Indian war； being on a visit to
our establishment； consented to accept the command。 I gave him a
commission； and； parading the garrison； had it read before them； and
introduc'd him to them as an officer who； from his skill in military affairs；
was much more fit to command them than myself； and； giving them a little
exhortation； took my leave。 I was escorted as far as Bethlehem； where I
rested a few days to recover from the fatigue I had undergone。 The first
night； being in a good bed； I could hardly sleep； it was so different from
my hard lodging on the floor of our hut at Gnaden wrapt only in a blanket
or two。
While at Bethlehem； I inquir'd a little into the practice of the
Moravians： some of them had accompanied me； and all were very kind to
me。 I found they work'd for a common stock； eat at common tables； and
slept in common dormitories； great numbers together。 In the dormitories I
observed loopholes； at certain distances all along just under the ceiling；
which I thought judiciously placed for change of air。 I was at their church；
where I was entertain'd with good musick； the organ being accompanied
with violins； hautboys； flutes； clarinets； etc。 I understood that their
sermons were not usually preached to mixed congregations of men；
women； and children； as is our common practice； but that they assembled
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sometimes the married men； at other times their wives； then the young
men； the young women； and the little children； each division by itself。 The
sermon I heard was to the latter； who came in and were plac'd in rows on
benches； the boys under the conduct of a young man； their tutor； and the
girls conducted by a young woman。 The discourse seem'd well adapted to
their capacities； and was deliver'd in a pleasing； familiar manner； coaxing
them； as it were； to be good。 They behav'd very orderly； but looked pale
and unhealthy； which made me suspect they were kept too much within
doors； or not allow'd sufficient exercise。
I inquir'd concerning the Moravian marriages； whether the report was
true that they were by lot。 I was told that lots were us'd only in particular
cases； that generally； when a young man found himself dispos'd to marry；
he inform'd the elders of his class； who consulted the elder ladies that
govern'd the young women。 As these elders of the different sexes were
well acquainted with the tempers and dispositions of their respective
pupils； they could best judge what matches were suitable； and their
judgments were generally acquiesc'd in； but if； for example； it should
happen that two or three young women were found to be equally proper
for the young man； the lot was then recurred to。 I objected； if the matches
are not made by the mutual choice of the parties； some of them may
chance to be very unhappy。 〃And so they may；〃 answer'd my informer； 〃if
you let the parties chuse for themselves；〃 which； indeed； I could not deny。
Being returned to Philadelphia； I found the association went on
swimmingly； the inhabitants that were not Quakers having pretty generally
come into it； formed themselves into companies； and chose their captains；
lieutenants； and ensigns； according to the new law。 Dr。 B。 visited me； and
gave me an account of the pains he had taken to spread a general good
liking to the law； and ascribed much to those endeavors。 I had had the
vanity to ascribe all to my Dialogue； however； not knowing but that he
might be in the right； I let him enjoy his opinion； which I take to be
generally the best way in such cases。 The officers； meeting； chose me to be
colonel of the regiment； which I this time accepted。 I forget how many
companies we had； but we paraded about twelve hundred well…looking
men； with a company of artillery； who had been furnished with six brass
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field…pieces； which they had become so expert in the use of as to fire
twelve times in a minute。 The first time I reviewed my regiment they
accompanied me to my house； and would salute me with some rounds
fired before my door； which shook down and broke several glasses of my
electrical apparatus。 And my new honour proved not much less brittle； for
all our commissions were soon after broken by a repeal of the law in
England。
During this short time of my colonelship； being about to set out on a
journey to Virginia； the officers of my regiment took it into their heads that
it would be proper for them to escort me out of town； as far as the Lower
Ferry。 Just as I was getting on horseback they came to my door； between
thirty and forty； mounted； and all in their uniforms。 I had not been
previously acquainted with the project； or I should have prevented it；
being naturally averse to the assuming of state on any occasion； and I was
a good deal chagrin'd at their appearance； as I could not avoid their
accompanying me。 What made it worse was； that； as soon as we began to
move； they drew their swords and rode with them naked all the way。
Somebody wrote an account of this to the proprietor； and it gave him great
offense。 No such honor had been paid him when in the province； nor to
any of his governors； and he said it was only proper to princes of the blood
royal； which may be true for aught I know； who was； and still am； ignorant
of the etiquette in such cases。
This silly affair； however； greatly increased his rancour against me；
which was before not a little； on account of my conduct in the Assembly
respecting the exemption of his estate from taxation； which I had always
oppos'd very warmly； and not without severe reflections on his meanness
and injustice of contending for it。 He accused me to the ministry as being
the great obstacle to the king's service； preventing； by my influence in the
House； the proper form
