they were utter strangers. I told him this had always been the case with new sects, and that to put a stop to such abuse, I imagined it might be well to publish the articles of their belief, and the rules of their discipline. He said that it had been proposed among them, but not agreed to for this reason: "When we were first drawn together as a society, (said he,) it had pleased God to enlighten our minds so far as to see that some doctrines, which were esteemed truths, were errors; and that others which we have esteemed errors, were real truths. From time to time he has been pleased to afford us farther light, and our principles have been improving, and our errors diminishing: now, we are not sure that we are arrived at the end of this progression, and at the perfection of spiritual or theological knowledge; and we fear that if we should once print our confession of faith, we should feel ourselves as if bound and confined by it, and perhaps be unwilling to receive further improvement; and our successors still more so, as conceiving what their elders and founders had done, to be something sacred, never to be departed from." This modesty in a sect, is perhaps a singular instance in the history of mankind, every other sect supposing itself in possession of all truth, and that those who differ, are so far in the wrong: like a man travelling in foggy weather; those at some distance before him on the road he sees wrapt up in the fog, as well as those behind him, and also the people in the fields on each side; but near him all appear clear; though in truth, he is as much in the fog as any of them. To avoid this kind of embarrassment, the Quakers have of late years been gradually declining the public service in the assembly and in the magistracy, choosing rather to quit their power than their principle.

with the construction of this stove as described
in it, that he offered to give me a patent for
the sole vending of them for a term of years;
but I declined it, from a principle which has
ever weighed with me on such occasions, viz:
That as we enjoy great advantages from
the inventions of others, we should be glad
of an opportunity to serve others by any in-
vention of ours; and this we should do freely
and generously.

An ironmonger in London, however, as-
suming a good deal of my pamphlet, and
working it up into his own, and making some
small changes in the machine, which rather
hurt its operation, got a patent for it there,
and made, as I was told, a little fortune by it.
And this is not the only instance of patents
taken out of my inventions by others, though
not always with the same success; which I
never contested, as having no desire of profit-
ing by patents myself, and hating disputes.
The use of these fire places in very many
houses, both here in Pennsylvania, and the
neighbouring states, has been, and is, a great
saving of wood to the inhabitants.

Peace being concluded, and the association business therefore at an end, I turned my thoughts again to the affair of establishing an academy. The first step I took was to associate in the design a number of active friends, of whom the Junto furnished a good part: the next was to write and publish a pamphlet, entitled, " Proposals relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania." This I distributed among the principal inhabitants gratis: and as soon as I could suppose their minds a little prepared by the perusal of it, I set on foot a subscription for opening and supporting an academy; it was to be paid in quotas yearly for five years; by so dividing it I judged the subscription might be larger; and I believe it was so, amounting to no less, if I remember right, than five thousand pounds.

In order of time, I should have mentioned before, that having, in 1742, invented an open stove for the better warming of rooms, and at the same time saving fuel, as the fresh air admitted was warmed in entering, I made a present of the model to Mr. Robert Grace, one of my early friends, who having an iron furnace, found the casting of the plates for these stoves a profitable thing, as they were The subscribers, to carry the project into growing in demand. To promote that de- immediate execution, chose out of their nummand, I wrote and published a pamphlet, en- ber twenty-four trustees, and appointed Mr. titled, "An Account of the new-invented Francis, then attorney-general, and myself, to Pennsylvania Fire Places; wherein their draw up constitutions for the government of construction and manner of operation is par- the academy; which being done and signed, ticularly explained, their advantages above a house was hired, masters engaged, and the every method of warming rooms demon- schools opened; I think in the same year strated; and all objections that have been 1749. raised against the use of them, answered and obviated, &c." This pamphlet had a good effect; governor Thomas was so pleased

In the introduction to these proposals, I stated their publication not as an act of mine, but of some public-spirited gentlemen; avoiding as much as I could, according to my usual rule, the presenting myself to the public as the author of any scheme for their benefit.

* See Papers on Philosophical Subjects.

The scholars increasing fast, the house was soon found too small, and we were looking out for a piece of ground, properly situated, with intent to build, when accident threw into our way a large house ready built, which,

with a few alterations, might well serve our | printing office, paying me punctually my purpose: this was the building beforemen- share of the profits. This partnership contioned, erected by the hearers of Mr. White- tinued eighteen years, successfully for us field, and was obtained for us in the following both.

manner.

country.

The trustees of the academy after a while, It is to be noted, that the contributions to were incorporated by a charter from the gothis building being made by people of differ- vernor; their funds were increased by conent sects, care was taken in the nomination tributions in Britain, and grants of land from of trustees, in whom the building and ground the proprietaries, to which the assembly has were to be vested, that a predominancy should since made considerable addition; and thus not be given to any sect, lest in time that pre- was established the present university of dominancy might be a means of appropriating Philadelphia. I have been continued one of the whole to the use of such sect, contrary to its trustees from the beginning, (now near the original intention; it was for this reason forty years,) and have had the very great that one of each sect was appointed; viz. one pleasure of seeing a number of the youth who Church of England man, one Presbyterian, have received their education in it, distinone Baptist, one Moravian, &c., who, in case guished by their improved abilities, serviceof vacancy by death, were to fill it by elec-able in public stations, and ornaments to their tion among the contributors. The Moravian happened not to please his colleagues, and on his death they resolved to have no other of that sect; the difficulty then was, how to avoid having two of some other sect, by means of the new choice. Several persons were named, and for that reason not agreed to: at length one mentioned me, with the observation, that I was merely an honest man, and of no sect at all, which prevailed with them to choose me. The enthusiasm which existed when the house was built, had long since abated, and its trustees had not been able to procure fresh contributions for paying the ground rent, and discharging some other debts the building had occasioned, which embarrassed them greatly. Being now a member of both boards of trustees, that for the building, and that for the academy, I had a good opportunity of negociating with both, and brought them finally to an agreement, by which the trustees for the building were to cede it to those of the academy; the latter undertaking to discharge the debt, to keep for ever open in the building a large hall for occasional preachers, according to the original intention, and maintain a free school for the instruction of poor children. Writings were accordingly drawn; and on paying the debts, the trustees of the academy were put in possession of the premises; and by dividing the great and lofty hall into stories, and different rooms above and below for the several schools, and purchasing some additional ground, the whole was soon made fit for our purpose, and the scholars removed into the building. The whole care and trouble of agreeing with the workmen, purchasing materials, and superintending the work, fell upon me, and I went through it the more cheerfully, as it did not then interfere with my private business; having the year before taken a very able, industrious, and honest partner, Mr. David Hall, with whose character I was well acquainted, as he had worked for me four years; he took off my hands all care of the

When I was disengaged myself, as abovementioned, from private business, I flattered myself that by the sufficient, though moderate fortune I had acquired, I had found leisure during the rest of my life for philosophical studies and amusements. I purchased all Dr. Spence's apparatus, who had come from England to lecture in Philadelphia, and I proceeded in my electrical experiments with great alacrity; but the public now considering me as a man of leisure, laid hold of me for their purposes; every part of our civil government, and almost at the same time, imposing some duty upon me. The governor put me into the commission of the peace; the corporation of the city chose me one of the common council, and soon after alderman; and the citizens at large elected me a burgess to represent them in assembly; this latter station was the more agreeable to me, as I grew at length tired with sitting there to hear the debates, in which as clerk I could take no part; and which were often so uninteresting, that I was induced to amuse myself with making magic squares or circles, or any thing to avoid weariness; and I conceived my becoming a member, would enlarge my power of doing good. I would not, however, insinuate that my ambition was not flattered by all these promotions: it certainly was; for, considering my low beginning, they were great things to me: and they were still more pleas ing, as being so many spontaneous testimonies of the public good opinion, and by me entirely unsolicited.

The office of justice of the peace I tried a little, by attending a few courts, and sitting on the bench to hear causes; but finding that more knowledge of the common law than 1 possessed was necessary to act in that station with credit, I gradually withdrew from it; excusing myself by my being obliged to attend the higher duties of a legislator in the * See several of these, in "Papers on Subjects of Phi tosophy, &c."

assembly. My election to this trust was repeated every year for ten years, without my ever asking any elector for his vote, or signifying either directly or indirectly any desire of being chosen. On taking my seat in theme, but was originally and truly his,) for the house, iny son was appointed their clerk.

In 1751, Dr. Thomas Bond, a particular friend of mine, conceived the idea of establishing a hospital in Philadelphia, (a very beneficent design, which has been ascribed to

reception and cure of poor sick persons, wheThe year following, a treaty being to be ther inhabitants of the province, or strangers. held with the Indians at Carlisle, the governor He was zealous and active in endeavouring sent a message to the house, proposing that to procure subscriptions for it; but the prothey should nominate some of their members, posal being a novelty in America, and at first to be joined with some members of council, as not well understood, he met but with little commissioners for that purpose. The house success. At length he came to me with the named the speaker (Mr. Norris) and myself; compliment, that he found there was no such and being commissioned, we went to Carlisle, a thing as carrying a public-spirited project and met the Indians accordingly. As those through without my being concerned in it. people are extremely apt to get drunk, and "For," said he, "I am often asked by those when so are very quarrelsome and disorderly, to whom I propose subscribing, Have you we strictly forbade the selling any liquor to consulted Franklin on this business? And them; and when they complained of this re- what does he think of it? And when I tell striction, we told them, that if they would con- them that I have not, (supposing it rather out tinue sober during the treaty, we would give of your line,) they do not subscribe, but say, them plenty of rum when the business was they will consider it." I inquired into the over. They promised this, and they kept their nature and probable utility of the scheme, promise, because they could get no rum; and and receiving from him a very satisfactory the treaty was conducted very orderly, and explanation, I not only subscribed to it myconcluded to mutual satisfaction. They then self, but engaged heartily in the design of claimed and received the rum; this was in procuring subscriptions from others: previous the afternoon; they were near one hundred however to the solicitation, I endeavoured to men, women, and children, and were lodged prepare the minds of the people, by writing in temporary cabins, built in the form of a on the subject in the newspapers, which was square, just without the town. In the even-my usual custom in such cases, but which Dr. ing, hearing a great noise among them, the commissioners walked to see what was the matter; we found they had made a great bonire in the middle of the square: they were all drunk, men and women, quarreling and fighting. Their dark-coloured bodies, halfnaked, seen only by the gloomy light of the bonfire, running after and beating one another with firebrands, accompanied by their horrid yellings, formed a scene the most resembling our ideas of hell that could well be imagined; there was no appeasing the tumult, and we retired to our lodging. At midnight a number of them came thundering at our door, demanding more rum, of which we took no notice. The next day, sensible they had mis-ed as a most extravagant supposition, and behaved in giving us that disturbance, they sent three of their old counsellors to make their apology. The orator acknowledged the fault, but laid it upon the rum; and then endeavoured to excuse the rum, by saying, "The Great Spirit, who made all things, made every thing for some use, and whatever use he designed any thing for, that use it should always be put to: now, when he made rum, he said, 'LET THIS BE FOR THE INDIANS TO GET DRUNK WITH;' and it must be so." And, indeed, if it be the design of Providence to extirpate these savages, in order to make room for the cultivators of the earth, it seems not impossible that rum may be the appointed means. It has already annihilated all the tribes who formerly inhabited the sea coast. VOL. I....G

5

Bond had omitted. The subscriptions afterwards were more free and generous; but beginning to flag, I saw they would be insufficient, without some assistance from the assembly, and therefore proposed to petition for it; which was done. The country members did not at first relish the project: they objected that it could only be serviceable to the city, and therefore the citizens alone should be at the expense of it; and they doubted whether the citizens themselves generally approved of it. My allegation on the contrary, that it met with such approbation as to leave no doubt of our being able to raise two thousand pounds by voluntary donations, they consider

utterly impossible. On this I formed my plan; and asking leave to bring in a bill for incorporating the contributors according to the prayer of their petition, and granting them a blank sum of money; which leave was obtained chiefly on the consideration, that the house could throw the bill out if they did not like it, I drew it so as to make the important clause a conditional one, viz: "And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that when the said contributors shall have met and chosen their managers and treasurer, and shall have raised by their contributions a capital stock of two thousand pounds value, (the yearly interest of which is to be applied to the accommodation of the sick poor in the said hospital, and of charge for diet, attend

Our city, though laid out with a beautiful regularity, the streets large, straight, and crossing each other at right angles, had the disgrace of suffering those streets to remain long unpaved, and in wet weather the wheels of heavy carriages ploughed them into a quagmire, so that it was difficult to cross them; and in dry weather the dust was offensive. I had lived near what was called the Jersey market, and saw with pain the inhabitants wading in mud, while purchasing their provisions. A strip of ground down the middle of that market was at length paved with brick, so that being once in the market they had firm footing; but were often over shoes in dirt to get there. By talking and writing on the subject, I was at length instrumental in getting the streets paved with stone between the market and the brick foot pavement that was on the side next the houses. This for some time gave an easy access to the market dry-shod; but the rest of the street not being paved, whenever a carriage came out of the

ance, advice, and medicines,) and shall make the same appear to the satisfaction of the speaker of the Assembly for the time being; that then it shall and may be lawful for the said speaker, and he is hereby required to sign an order on the provincial treasurer, for the payment of two thousand pounds in two yearly payments, to the treasurer of the said hospital, to be applied to the founding, building, and finishing of the same." This condition carried the bill through; for the members who had opposed the grant, and now conceived they might have the credit of being charitable without the expense, agreed to its passage; and then in soliciting subscriptions among the people, we urged the conditional promise of the law as an additional motive to give, since every man's donation would be doubled: thus the clause worked both ways. The subscriptions accordingly soon exceeded the requisite sum, and we claimed and received the public gift, which enabled us to carry the design into execution. A convenient and handsome building was soon erect-mud upon this pavement, it shook off and left ed, the institution has by constant experience been found useful, and flourishes to this day; and I do not remember any of my political manœuvres, the success of which at the time gave me more pleasure; or, wherein, after thinking of it, I more easily excused myself for having made some use of cunning.

its dirt upon it, and it was soon covered with mire, which was not removed, the city as yet having no scavengers. After some inquiry I found a poor industrious man who was willing to undertake keeping the pavement clean, by sweeping it twice a week, carrying off the dirt from before all the neighbours' doors, for the sum of sixpence per month, to be paid by each house. I then wrote and printed a paper, setting forth the advantages to the neighbourhood that might be obtained from this small expense; the greater ease in keeping our houses clean, so much dirt not being brought in by people's feet; the benefit to the

It was about this time, that another projector, the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, came to me with a request, that I would assist him in procuring a subscription for erecting a new meeting-house. It was to be for the use of a congregation he had gathered among the Presbyterians, who were originally disciples of Mr. Whitefield. Unwilling to make my-shops by more custom, as buyers could more self disagreeable to my fellow citizens, by too frequently soliciting their contributions, I absolutely refused. He then desired I would furnish him with a list of the names of persons I knew by experience to be generous and public spirited. I thought it would be unbecoming in me, after their kind compliance with my solicitation, to mark them out to be worried by other beggars, and therefore refused to give such a list. He then desired I would at least give him my advice. That I will do, said I; and, in the first place, I advise you to apply to all those who you know will give something; next, to those who you are uncertain whether they will give any thing or not, and show them the list of those who have given; and, lastly, do not neglect those who you are sure will give nothing, for in some of them you may be mistaken. He laughed and thanked me, and said he would take my advice. He did so, for he asked of every body, and he obtained a much larger sum than he expected, with which he erected the capacious and elegant meeting-house that stands in Arch street.

easily get at them; and by not having in windy weather the dust blown in upon their goods, &c. I sent one of these papers to each house, and in a day or two went round to see who would subscribe an agreement to pay these sixpences; it was unanimously signed, and for a time well executed. All the inhabitants of the city were delighted with the cleanliness of the pavement that surrounded the market, it being a convenience to all, and this raised a general desire to have all the streets paved; and made the people more willing to submit to a tax for that purpose. After some time I drew a bill for paving the city, and brought it into the assembly. It was just before I went to England, in 1757, and did not pass till I was gone, and then with an alteration in the mode of assessment, which I thought not for the better; but with an additional provision for lighting as well as paving the streets, which was a great improvement. It was by a private person, the late Mr. John Clifton, giving a sample of the utility of lamps, by placing one at his door, that the people were first impressed with the