Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/76

66 clerk, to keep his books, in which he would inſtruct me, copy letters, and ſuperintend the ſtore. He added that, as ſoon as I had acquired a knowledge of mercantile tranſactions he would improve my ſituation, by ſending me with a cargo of corn and flour to the American iſlands, and by procuring me other lucrative commiſſions; ſo that, with good management and œconomy, I might in time begin buſineſs with advantage for myſelf.

I reliſhed theſe propoſals, London began to tire me; the agreeable hours I had paſſed at Philadelphia preſented themſelves to my mind, and I wiſhed to ſee them revive. I conſequently engaged myſelf to Mr. Denham, at a ſalary of fifty pounds a-year. This was indeed leſs than I earned as a compoſitor, but then I had a much fairer proſpect. I took leave therefore, as I believed for ever, of printing, and gave myſelf up entirely to my new occupation, ſpending all my time either in going from houſe to houſe with Mr. Denham to purchaſe goods, or in packing them up, or in expediting the workmen, &c. &c. When every thing however was on board, I had at laſt a few days leiſure. During this interval, I was one day ſent for by a gentleman, whom I knew only by name, It was Sir William Wyndham. I went to his houſe. He had by ſome means heard of my performances between Chelſea and Blackfriars. and that I had taught the art of ſwimming to Wygate and another young man in the courſe of a few hours. His two ſons were on the point of ſetting out on their travels; he was deſirous that they ſhould previouſly learn to ſwim, and offered me a very liberal reward if I would undertake to inſtruct them. They were not yet arrived in town, and the ſtay I ſhould make