Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VII.djvu/448

 436 FRANKLIN tion, and excited curiosity. Other communi- cations followed in the same manner, and at length the author was discovered. The brother took it amiss, the circumstance was a first oc- casion of hard words, and the young appren- tice was heaten. Exception was taken by the general court to the political character of Franklin's newspaper. The elder brother was imprisoned, and the future publication of the journal by James Franklin was forbidden. The younger Franklin undertook to elude the interdict by consenting to be nominal printer. This required the cancelling of his indentures as apprentice, but the brother required new and secret indentures. The paper reappeared, and was continued for several months, nomi- nally printed and published by Benjamin Franklin. A fresh difference soon arose be- tween the brothers, and the apprentice, sup- posing his master would not produce the secret articles of agreement, asserted his liberty. His brother's influence, however, prevented him from getting employment at any of the print- ing offices in Boston, and he resolved to go to New York in search of work. He accordingly induced the captain of a trading vessel to take him secretly on board, on pretence of escaping the consequences of an unfortunate intrigue. He sold his books, and in three days was in New York, at the age of 17, friendless, almost penniless, and without recommendations. Dis- appointed there, he went to Philadelphia. His voyage from New York to Perth Amboy in an open boat was eventful ; he saved the life of a drunken Dutchman, who fell overboard; and after being 30 hours without food or water, he landed at Amboy, suffering from fever, which he says he cured by drinking plentifully of cold water. He walked thence to Burling- ton, and took boat to Philadelphia, arriving after some difficulty and danger at the foot of Market street at 9 o'clock on a Sunday morn- ing. He had one dollar, and about a shilling in copper coin ; the latter he gave to the boat- men. He bought three rolls of bread, and ate one as he walked up the street with the others under his arms, and his pockets stuffed with stockings and shirts. Thus equipped he passed by the house of his future father-in-law ; his future wife was at the door, and remarked the awkward and ridiculous appearance of the passer-by. He gave his rolls to a poor woman, and walked idly into a Quaker meeting house, where he fell into a comfortable sleep ; it was the first house and the first repose of which he had the benefit in Philadelphia. He found employment with an unskilful printer named Keimer, and obtained lodging at Mr. Read's, the father of the young lady who had noticed him eating his roll. The governor of the prov- ince, Sir William Keith, accidentally saw one of his letters, and was struck with evidences of the writer's superiority. To the amazement of Franklin, Sir William sought him out, pro- posed to him to set up business for himself, and promised him the public printing. He was induced by these promises to agree to go to England to purchase types and material ; and previously to doing so, to return to Boston to obtain his father's consent. This was with- held, and Franklin returning to Philadelphia remained some time longer with his first em- ployer. In the mean time he had made prog- ress in his courtship of Miss Read. The gov- ernor invited him often to his house, and adhered apparently to his original intention of setting him up in independent business. Arrangements therefore were completed for the voyage to London. His father's permission was no longer withheld. Miss Read consented to an engagement, and he embarked, being just 18. On arriving in London he discovered that he had been grossly deceived by the governor. Sir William Keith, " a good governor for the peo- ple, planned many excellent laws," but having "nothing else to give, had given expectations." Franklin was alone in a foreign country, without credit or acquaintance, and almost penniless. He promptly sought a printer, and took service for nearly a year. He fell into some extrava- gance, and committed follies of which he be- came ashamed, and from which he returned self-rebuked to industry and temperance. He wrote and published a metaphysical criticism upon Wollaston's "Religion of Nature;" his employer saw his talent and ingenuity, but expostulated against the principles advanced in his essay. The pamphlet was an introduc- tion to some literary acquaintances. He had altercations with his fellow journeymen on the subject of temperance ; they were beer-drink- ing sots, and many of them he reformed al- together; he was strong and athletic, while they could carry less and did less work. His skill in swimming attracted observation, and he gave exhibitions of the art at Chelsea and Blackfriars, which excited so much attention that he meditated opening a swimming school, and wrote two essays upon swimming ; but in the mean time he entered into engagements with a good man, Mr. Denham, to return to Philadelphia and be his clerk in a dry-goods shop. They sailed from Gravesend July 23, 1726, and landed at Philadelphia Oct. 11. He kept an interesting journal of the voyage. He had been 18 months in London, had profited by advantages of acquaintanceship and books, but was unimproved in his fortunes. Sir William Keith had been superseded as governor ; Frank- lin met him in the street, but seeing that he looked ashamed, passed on without remark. To Miss Read he had written but once during his absence, and that was to say that she was not likely to see him soon. She had been persuaded to marry another, but her husband had absconded in debt, and under suspicion of bigamy. Franklin attributed her misfortunes to his own conduct, and resolved to repair his error. It was doubtful whether a marriage with her would be valid; it had not been clearly ascertained that his " predecessor, " as h e styles him, had had a previous wife, and Frank-