sible might have informed us how far we are from land. Our artists on board are much at a loss. We hoisted our jack to her, but she took no notice of it. Friday, October 7. Last night, about nine o'clock, sprung up a fine gale at North East, which run us in our course at the rate of seven miles an hour all night. We were in hopes of seeing land this morning, but cannot. The water, which we thought was changed, is now as blue as the sky; so that unless at that time we were running over some unknown shoal our eyes strangely deceived us. All the reckonings have been out these several days; though the captain says 'tis his opinion we are yet an hundred leagues from land: for my part I know not what to think of it, we have run all this day at a great rate; and now night is come on we have no soundings. Sure the American continent is not all sunk under water since we left it. Saturday, October 8. The fair wind continues still; we ran all night in our course, sounding every four hours, but can find no ground yet, nor is the water changed by all this day's run. This afternoon we saw an Irish Lord, and a bird which flying looked like a yellow duck. These they say are not seen far from the coast. Other signs of land have we none. Abundance of large porpoises ran by us this afternoon, and we were followed by a shoal of small ones, leaping out of the water, as they approached. Towards evening we spied a sail a-head, and spoke with her just before dark. She was bound from New York for Jamaica, and left Sandy Hook yesterday about noon, from which they reckon themselves forty-five leagues distant. By this we compute that we are not above thirty leagues from our capes, and hope to see land to-morrow. Sunday, October 9. We have had the wind fair all the morning: at twelve o'clock we sounded, perceiving the water visibly changed, and struck ground at twenty-five fathoms, to our universal joy. After dinner one of our mess went up aloft to look out, and presently pronounced the long-wished for sound, LAND! LAND! In less than an hour we could descry it from the deck, appearing like tufts of trees. I could not discern it so soon as the rest; my eyes were dimmed with the suffusion of two small drops of joy. By three o'clock we were run in within two leagues of the land, and spied a small sail standing along shore. We would gladly have spoken with her, for our captain was unacquainted with the coast, and knew not what land it was that we saw. We made all the sail we could to speak with her. We made a signal of distress; but all would not do, the ill-natured dog would not come near us. Then we stood off again till morning, not caring to venture too near. Monday, October 10. This morning we stood in again for land; and we, that had been here before all, agreed that it was Cape Henlopen : about noon we were come very near, and to our great joy saw the pilotboat come off to us, which was exceeding welcome. He brought on board about a peck of apples with him; they seemed the most delicious I ever tasted in my life: the salt provisions we had been used to, gave them a relish. We had an extraordinary fair wind all the afternoon, and ran above an hundred miles up the Delaware before ten at night. The country appears very pleasant to the eye, being covered with woods, except here and there a house and plantation, We cast anchor when the tide turned, about two miles below Newcastle, and there lay till the morning tide. Tuesday, October 11. This morning we weighed anchor with a gentle breeze, and passed by Newcastle, whence they hailed us and bade us welcome. 'Tis extreme fine weather. The sun enlivens our stiff limbs with his glorious rays of warmth and brightness. The sky looks gay, with here and there a silver cloud. The fresh breezes from the woods refresh us, the immediate prospect of liberty after so long and irksome confinement ravishes us. In short all things conspire to make this the most joyful day I ever knew. As we passed by Chester some of the company went on shore, impatient once more to tread on terra firma, and designing for Philadelphia by land. Four of us remained on board, not caring for the fatigue of travel when we knew the voyage had much weakened us. About eight at night, the wind failing us, we cast anchor at Redbank, six miles from Philadelphia, and thought we must be obliged to lie on board that night: but some young Philadelphians happening to be out upon their pleasure in a boat, they came on board, and offered to take us up with them: we accepted of their kind proposal, and about ten o'clock landed at Philadelphia, heartily congratulating each other upon our having happily completed so tedious and dangerous a voyage. Thank God! APPENDIX No. 2. Rules for a Club established in Philadelphia. [ Referred to Page 47 of Memoirs.] Previous question, to be answered at every meeting. HAVE you read over these queries this morning, in order to consider what you might have to 'offer the Junto touching any one of them? viz. '1. Have you met with any thing in the author you last read, remarkable, or suitable to be communicated to the Junto? particularly in history, morality, poetry, physic, travels, mechanic arts, or other parts of knowledge. 2. What new story have you lately heard, agreeable for telling in conversation? 3. Hath any citizen in your knowledge failed in his business lately, and what have you heard of the cause? 4. Have you lately heard of any citizen's thriving well, and by what means? '5. Have you lately heard how any present rich man, here or elsewhere, got his estate ? '6. Do you know of any fellow citizen, who has lately done a worthy action, deserving praise and imitation? or who has committed an error proper for us to be warned against and avoid? '7. What unhappy effects of intemperance have you lately observed or heard? of imprudence? of passion? or of any other vice or folly? '8. What happy effects of temperance? of prudence? of moderation? or of any other virtue? '9. Have you, or any of your acquaintance, been lately sick or wounded? if so, what remedies were used, and what were their effects? 10. Who do you know that are shortly going voyages or journies, if one should have occasion to send by them? 11. Do you think of any thing at present, in which the Junto may be serviceable to mankind? to their country, to their friends, or to themselves? 12. Hath any deserving stranger arrived in town since our last meeting that you heard of? and what have you heard or observed of his character or merits: and whether you think it lies in the power of the Junto to oblige him, or encourage him as he deserves? '13. Do you know of any deserving young beginner lately set up, whom it lies in the power of the Junto any way to encourage? 14. Have you lately observed any defect in the laws of your country, of which it would be proper to move the legislature for an amendment? or do you know of any beneficial law that is wanting? 15. Have you lately observed any encroachment on the just liberties of the people? 16. Hath any body attacked your reputation lately? and what can the Junto do towards securing it? 17. Is there any men whose friendship you want, and which the Junto or any of them can procure for you? 18. Have you lately heard any member's character attacked, and how have you defended it? 19. Hath any man injured you, from whom it is in the power of the Junto to procure you redress? 20. In what manner can the Junto, or any of them, assist you in any of your honourable designs? 21. Have you any weighty affair in hand, in which you think the advice of the Junto may be of service? 22. What benefits have you lately received from any man not present? 23. Is there any difficulty in matters of opinion, of justice, and injustice, which you would gladly have discussed at this time? 24. Do you see any thing amiss in the present customs or proceedings of the Junto, which might be amended? Any person to be qualified, (as a Member of the JUNTO) to stand up, and lay his hand on his breast, and be asked these questions; viz. '1. Have you any particular disrespect to any present members?-Answer. I have not. 2. Do you sincerely declare that you love mankind in general; of what profession or religion soever? Answer. I do. 3. Do you think any person ought to be harmed in his body, name or goods, for mere speculative opinions, or his external way of worship?-Answer. No. 4. Do you love truth for truth's sake, and will you endeavour impartially to find and re ceive it yourself and communicate it to others?-Answer. Yes. Questions discussed by the JUNTO forming the preceding Club. Is sound an entity or body? How may the phenomena of vapours be explained? Is self-interest the rudder that steers mankind, the universal monarch to whom all are tributaries? Which is the best form of government, and what was that form which first prevailed among mankind? Can any one particular form of government suit all mankind? What is the reason that the tides rise higher in the Bay of Fundy than the Bay of Delaware? Is the emission of paper money safe? What is the reason that men of the greatest knowledge are not the most happy? How may the possession of the Lakes be improved to our advantage? Why are tumultuous uneasy sensations united with our desires? Whether it ought to be the aim of philosophy to eradicate the passions? How may smoaky chimneys be best cured? Why does the flame of a candle tend upwards in a spire? Which is least criminal, a bad action joined with a good intention, or a good action with a bad intention? Is it consistent with the principles of liberty in a free government to punish a man as a libeller, when he speaks the truth? APPENDICES Nos. 3 & 4. THE BUSY BODY.-THE WAY TO WEALTH. [When the references at pages 50 and 78 were made to these Tracts, it was intended to reprint them in this place: as, however, the select Miscellaneous Works of Dr. Franklin (many of which have never appeared) are preparing for publication, and will succeed these Memoirs, the Editor has preferred to insert them in that collection, and they are therefore omitted in the present volume.] |