the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第46节
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about those already made。 I therefore never answered M。 Nollet； and the
event gave me no cause to repent my silence； for my friend M。 le Roy； of
the Royal Academy of Sciences； took up my cause and refuted him； my
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book was translated into the Italian； German； and Latin languages； and the
doctrine it contain'd was by degrees universally adopted by the
philosophers of Europe； in preference to that of the abbe； so that he lived
to see himself the last of his sect； except Monsieur B； of Paris； his
eleve and immediate disciple。
What gave my book the more sudden and general celebrity； was the
success of one of its proposed experiments； made by Messrs。 Dalibard and
De Lor at Marly； for drawing lightning from the clouds。 This engag'd the
public attention every where。 M。 de Lor； who had an apparatus for
experimental philosophy； and lectur'd in that branch of science； undertook
to repeat what he called the Philadelphia Experiments； and； after they were
performed before the king and court； all the curious of Paris flocked to see
them。 I will not swell this narrative with an account of that capital
experiment； nor of the infinite pleasure I receiv'd in the success of a
similar one I made soon after with a kite at Philadelphia； as both are to be
found in the histories of electricity。
Dr。 Wright； an English physician； when at Paris； wrote to a friend； who
was of the Royal Society； an account of the high esteem my experiments
were in among the learned abroad； and of their wonder that my writings
had been so little noticed in England。 The society； on this； resum'd the
consideration of the letters that had been read to them； and the celebrated
Dr。 Watson drew up a summary account of them； and of all I had
afterwards sent to England on the subject； which be accompanied with
some praise of the writer。 This summary was then printed in their
Transactions； and some members of the society in London； particularly the
very ingenious Mr。 Canton； having verified the experiment of procuring
lightning from the clouds by a pointed rod； and acquainting them with the
success； they soon made me more than amends for the slight with which
they had before treated me。 Without my having made any application for
that honor； they chose me a member； and voted that I should be excus'd the
customary payments； which would have amounted to twenty…five guineas；
and ever since have given me their Transactions gratis。 They also
presented me with the gold medal of Sir Godfrey Copley for the year 1753；
the delivery of which was accompanied by a very handsome speech of the
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president； Lord Macclesfield； wherein I was highly honoured。
Our new governor； Captain Denny； brought over for me the before…
mentioned medal from the Royal Society； which he presented to me at an
entertainment given him by the city。 He accompanied it with very polite
expressions of his esteem for me； having； as he said； been long acquainted
with my character。 After dinner； when the company； as was customary at
that time； were engag'd in drinking； he took me aside into another room；
and acquainted me that he had been advis'd by his friends in England to
cultivate a friendship with me； as one who was capable of giving him the
best advice； and of contributing most effectually to the making his
administration easy； that he therefore desired of all things to have a good
understanding with me； and he begg'd me to be assur'd of his readiness on
all occasions to render me every service that might be in his power。 He
said much to me； also； of the proprietor's good disposition towards the
province； and of the advantage it might be to us all； and to me in particular；
if the opposition that had been so long continu'd to his measures was dropt；
and harmony restor'd between him and the people； in effecting which； it
was thought no one could be more serviceable than myself； and I might
depend on adequate acknowledgments and recompenses； etc。； etc。 The
drinkers； finding we did not return immediately to the table； sent us a
decanter of Madeira； which the governor made liberal use of； and in
proportion became more profuse of his solicitations and promises。
My answers were to this purpose： that my circumstances； thanks to
God； were such as to make proprietary favours unnecessary to me； and
that； being a member of the Assembly； I could not possibly accept of any；
that； however； I had no personal enmity to the proprietary； and that；
whenever the public measures he propos'd should appear to be for the
good of the people； no one should espouse and forward them more
zealously than myself； my past opposition having been founded on this；
that the measures which had been urged were evidently intended to serve
the proprietary interest； with great prejudice to that of the people； that I
was much obliged to him （the governor） for his professions of regard to
me； and that he might rely on every thing in my power to make his
administration as easy as possible； hoping at the same time that he had not
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brought with him the same unfortunate instruction his predecessor had
been hamper'd with。
On this he did not then explain himself； but when he afterwards came
to do business with the Assembly； they appear'd again； the disputes were
renewed； and I was as active as ever in the opposition； being the penman；
first； of the request to have a communication of the instructions； and then
of the remarks upon them； which may be found in the votes of the time；
and in the Historical Review I afterward publish'd。 But between us
personally no enmity arose； we were often together； he was a man of
letters； had seen much of the world； and was very entertaining and
pleasing in conversation。 He gave me the first information that my old
friend Jas。 Ralph was still alive； that he was esteem'd one of the best
political writers in England； had been employ'd in the dispute between
Prince Frederic and the king； and had obtain'd a pension of three hundred
a year； that his reputation was indeed small as a poet； Pope having damned
his poetry in the Dunciad； but his prose was thought as good as any man's。
The Assembly finally finding the proprietary obstinately
persisted in manacling their deputies with instructions inconsistent not
only with the privileges of the people； but with the service of the crown；
resolv'd to petition the king against them； and appointed me their agent to
go over to England； to present and support the petition。 The House had
sent up a bill to the governor； granting a sum of sixty thousand pounds for
the king's use （ten thousand pounds of which was subjected to the orders
of the then general； Lord Loudoun）； which the governor absolutely refus'd
to pass； in compliance with his instructions。
The many unanimous resolves of the Assembly what date？
＇Marg。 note。＇
I had agreed with Captain Morris； of the paquet at New York； for my
passage； and my stores were put on board； when Lord Loudoun arriv'd at
Philadelphia； expressly； as he told me； to endeavor an accommodation
between the governor and Assembly； that his majesty's service might not
be obstructed by their dissensions。 Accordingly； he desir'd the governor
and myself to meet him； that he might hear what was to be said on both
sides。 We met and discuss'd the business。 In behalf of the Assembly； I
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urg'd all the various arguments that may be found in the public papers of
that time； which were of my w
