Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/54

44 under no apprehenſions for his life. Before he could turn himſelf, we were able, by a few ſtrokes of our oars, to place ourſelves out of his reach; and whenever he touched the boat, we aſked him if he would row, ſtriking his hands at the ſame time with the oars to make him let go his hold. He was nearly ſuffocated with rage, but obſtinately refuſed making any promiſe to row. Perceiving at length that his ſtrength began to be exhauſted, we took him into the boat, and conveyed him home in the evening completely drenched. The utmoſt coldneſs ſubſiſted between us after this adventure. At laſt the captain of a Weft-India ſhip, who was commiſhioned to procure a tutor for the children of a gentleman at Barbadoes, meeting with Collins offered him the place. He accepted it, and took his leave of me, promiſing to discharge the debt he owed me with the firſt money he ſhould receive; but I have heard nothing of him ſince. The violation of the truſt repoſed in me by Vernon, was one of the firſt great errors of my life; and it proves that my father was not miſtaken when he ſuppoſed me too young to be intruſted with the management of important affairs. But Sir William, upon reading his letter, thought him too prudent. There was a difference, he ſaid, between individuals: years of maturity were not always accompanied with diſcretion, neither was youth in every inſtance devoid of it. Since your father, added he, will not ſet you up in buſineſs, I will do it myſelf. Make out a liſt of what will be wanted from England, and I will ſend for the articles. You ſhall repay me when you can. I am determined to have a good printer here, and I am ſure you will ſucceed. This was ſaid with ſo much ſeeming cordiality, that I ſuſpected not for an inſtant the ſincerity of the