CHAPTER XXIX. Franklin's Residence at Passy.-His Political Course.-Religious Opinions Page 527 Franklin at Ten Years of Age Young Franklin and his Companions at the Mill-pond.. A Family Group...... Franklin reading in his Chamber..... 12 13 14 20 His studying at the Printing-office Franklin ill-used by his Brother... Is taken on board the Sloop Franklin on his Journey to Burlington... The Old Woman's Hospitality..... He gives some of the Bread to a poor Woman.. 25 30 His agreeing to sail with a New York Captain... 33 33 36 38 Franklin with a Roll of Bread under each Arm, &c.. He falls Asleep in the Quaker Meeting-house His Reception by the Governor of New York.... His Resort on the Banks of the Schuylkill 40 42 43 45 51 64 56 57 62 63 68 The Governor gives him a Letter of Credit.... Franklin's Wife engaged in Book-folding, &c...... 127 The China Bowl and Silver Spoon 127 The Gardener weeding his Plants 136 Women providing Silk Colors for the Philadelphia Regiments..... 175 Franklin's Transformation by a French Tailor and Perruquier.... 390 me in England, and the journey I undertook for that purpose. Imagining it may be equally agreeable to you to learn the circumstances of my life, many of which you are unacquainted with, and expecting the enjoyment of a few weeks' uninterrupted leisure, I sit down to write them. Besides, there are some other inducements that excite me to this undertaking. From the poverty and obscurity in which I was born, and in which I passed my earliest years, I have raised myself to a state of affluence and some degree of celebrity in the world. As constant. good fortune has accompanied me even to an advanced period of life, my posterity will perhaps be desirous of learning the means which I employed, and which, thanks to Providence, so well succeeded with me. They may also deem them fit to be imitated, should any of them find themselves in similar circumstances. This good fortune, when I reflect on it, which is frequently the case, has induced me sometimes to lin was in the habit of calling Dr. Shipley "The Good Bishop." He became introduced to him while in Europe, as agent for several of the colonies, and in this year, 1771, paid two visits to Twyford. Dr. Shipley was one of the few in the House of Lords who opposed from the first the course pursued by the British government in relation to North America. He published some poems and sermons, and some writings in reference to the colonial dispute. He died in 1788; and Dr. Franklin, in a letter of condolence to his daughter, writes: "His departure is a loss, not to his family and friends only, but to his nation and to the world; for he was intent on doing good, had wisdom to devise the means, and talents to promote them. His sermon before the Society for Propagating the Gospel, and his Speech intended to be Spoken,' are proofs of his ability as well as his humanity. Had his counsels in those pieces been attended to by the ministers, how much bloodshed might have been prevented, and how much expense and disgrace to the nation avoided!" |