the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第49节
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setting up St。 George's Channel； which deceives seamen and caused the
loss of Sir Cloudesley Shovel's squadron。 This indraught was probably the
cause of what happened to us。
We had a watchman plac'd in the bow； to whom they often called；
〃Look well out before there；〃 and he as often answered； 〃Ay ay； 〃 but
perhaps had his eyes shut； and was half asleep at the time； they sometimes
answering； as is said； mechanically； for he did not see a light just before us；
which had been hid by the studdingsails from the man at the helm； and
from the rest of the watch； but by an accidental yaw of the ship was
discover'd； and occasion'd a great alarm； we being very near it； the light
appearing to me as big as a cart…wheel。 It was midnight； and our captain
fast asleep； but Captain Kennedy； jumping upon deck； and seeing the
danger； ordered the ship to wear round； all sails standing； an operation
dangerous to the masts； but it carried us clear； and we escaped shipwreck；
for we were running right upon the rocks on which the light…house was
erected。 This deliverance impressed me strongly with the utility of light…
houses； and made me resolve to encourage the building more of them in
America； if I should live to return there。
In the morning it was found by the soundings； etc。； that we were near
our port； but a thick fog hid the land from our sight。 About nine o'clock the
fog began to rise； and seem'd to be lifted up from the water like the curtain
at a play…house； discovering underneath； the town of Falmouth； the vessels
in its harbor； and the fields that surrounded it。 This was a most pleasing
spectacle to those who had been so long without any other prospects than
the uniform view of a vacant ocean； and it gave us the more pleasure as we
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were now free from the anxieties which the state of war occasion'd。
I set out immediately； with my son； for London； and we only stopt a
little by the way to view Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain； and Lord
Pembroke's house and gardens； with his very curious antiquities at Wilton。
We arrived in London the 27th of July； 1757。
Here terminates the Autobiography； as published by Wm。
Temple Franklin and his successors。 What follows was written in the last
year of Dr。 Franklin's life； and was first printed （in English） in Mr。
Bigelow's edition of 1868。ED。
AS SOON as I was settled in a lodging Mr。 Charles had provided for
me； I went to visit Dr。 Fothergill； to whom I was strongly recommended；
and whose counsel respecting my proceedings I was advis'd to obtain。 He
was against an immediate complaint to government； and thought the
proprietaries should first be personally appli'd to； who might possibly be
induc'd by the interposition and persuasion of some private friends； to
accommodate matters amicably。 I then waited on my old friend and
correspondent； Mr。 Peter Collinson； who told me that John Hanbury； the
great Virginia merchant； had requested to be informed when I should
arrive； that he might carry me to Lord Granville's； who was then President
of the Council and wished to see me as soon as possible。 I agreed to go
with him the next morning。 Accordingly Mr。 Hanbury called for me and
took me in his carriage to that nobleman's； who receiv'd me with great
civility； and after some questions respecting the present state of affairs in
America and discourse thereupon； he said to me： 〃You Americans have
wrong ideas of the nature of your constitution； you contend that the king's
instructions to his governors are not laws； and think yourselves at liberty
to regard or disregard them at your own discretion。 But those instructions
are not like the pocket instructions given to a minister going abroad； for
regulating his conduct in some trifling point of ceremony。 They are first
drawn up by judges learned in the laws； they are then considered； debated；
and perhaps amended in Council； after which they are signed by the king。
They are then； so far as they relate to you； the law of the land； for the king
is the LEGISLATOR OF THE COLONIES。〃 I told his lordship this was
new doctrine to me。 I had always understood from our charters that our
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laws were to be made by our Assemblies； to be presented indeed to the
king for his royal assent； but that being once given the king could not
repeal or alter them。 And as the Assemblies could not make permanent
laws without his assent； so neither could he make a law for them without
theirs。 He assur'd me I was totally mistaken。 I did not think so； however；
and his lordship's conversation having a little alarm'd me as to what might
be the sentiments of the court concerning us； I wrote it down as soon as I
return'd to my lodgings。 I recollected that about 20 years before； a clause
in a bill brought into Parliament by the ministry had propos'd to make the
king's instructions laws in the colonies； but the clause was thrown out by
the Commons； for which we adored them as our friends and friends of
liberty； till by their conduct towards us in 1765 it seem'd that they had
refus'd that point of sovereignty to the king only that they might reserve it
for themselves。
After some days； Dr。 Fothergill having spoken to the proprietaries；
they agreed to a meeting with me at Mr。 T。 Penn's house in Spring Garden。
The conversation at first consisted of mutual declarations of disposition to
reasonable accommodations； but I suppose each party had its own ideas of
what should be meant by reasonable。 We then went into consideration of
our several points of complaint； which I enumerated。 The proprietaries
justify'd their conduct as well as they could； and I the Assembly's。 We now
appeared very wide； and so far from each other in our opinions as to
discourage all hope of agreement。 However； it was concluded that I should
give them the heads of our complaints in writing； and they promis'd then
to consider them。 I did so soon after； but they put the paper into the hands
of their solicitor； Ferdinand John Paris； who managed for them all their
law business in their great suit with the neighbouring proprietary of
Maryland； Lord Baltimore； which had subsisted 70 years； and wrote for
them all their papers and messages in their dispute with the Assembly。 He
was a proud； angry man； and as I had occasionally in the answers of the
Assembly treated his papers with some severity； they being really weak in
point of argument and haughty in expression； he had conceived a mortal
enmity to me； which discovering itself whenever we met； I declin'd the
proprietary's proposal that he and I should discuss the heads of complaint
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between our two selves； and refus'd treating with any one but them。 They
then by his advice put the paper into the hands of the Attorney and
Solicitor…General for their opinion and counsel upon it； where it lay
unanswered a year wanting eight days； during which time I made frequent
demands of an answer from the proprietaries； but without obtaining any
other than that they had not yet received the opinion of the Attorney and
Solicitor…General。 What it was when they did receive it I never learnt； for
they did not communicate it to me； but sent a long message to the
Assembly drawn and signed by Paris； reciting my paper； complaining of
its want of formality； as a rudeness on my part； and giving a flimsy
justification of their conduct； adding that they should be willing to
accommodate matters if the Assembly would send out some person of
candour to treat with them for that purpose； intimating thereby that I was
not such。
The want of formality or rudeness was； probably； my not having
address'd the paper to them with
