USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Walks & talks about historic Boston > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
The second story contained originally but one chamber, and in this the windows, door, fireplace and closet were similar in number and position to those in the parlor beneath it.
The attic was also originally one unplastered room and had a window in front on the street, and two common attic win- dows, one on each side of the roof near the back part of it."
Such was undoubtedly the condition and appearance of the house at the time when the parents of Franklin dwelt within its walls, with their large family of children, several of whom received their first light beneath the roof; and such it con- tinued about one hundred years, after the Franklins left it for a house of their own, at the corner of Hanover and Union Streets." The old house was destroyed by fire on Saturday, December 9th, 1810, communicated to it from the livery stable situated on the corner of Milk and Hawley Streets, kept by Stephen L. Sleeper. It was at this time that the Old South Meeting House took fire and was saved by the exer- tions of a well known Bostonian, Isaac Harris, Esq., for which he received a silver testimonial.
At twelve years of age, Benjamin was apprenticed to his elder brother James, a printer and publisher, of the "New England Courant," a newspaper of Boston. He was never able to gratify his passion for reading. While serving his apprenticeship, he tried his skill in literary composition, occasionally writing anonymous articles for his brother's paper which were published and approved. Some political articles in the "Courant" offended the legislative assembly of the Colony, and James, the publisher, was imprisoned and forbidden to issue the journal. To elude the prohibition, young Benjamin was made the nominal editor, and his in- dentures of apprenticeship were temporarily cancelled. After the release of his brother he availed himself of this act to assert his freedom, and thus he escaped from a position which had become irksome in consequence of ill-treatment to which his brother had subjected him. Some years later he blamed himself for thus taking advantage of his brother's difficulty and confessed it was one of the errors of his life. Franklin
251
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
decided to try his fortune in New York, but was obliged to keep the matter secret, as his father sided with his brother, and would have prevented his going. He sold his books to raise a little money, took passage aboard a sloop and with a fair wind reached New York in three days.
At the age of seventeen he found himself in a strange city, three hundred miles from home, without any recommenda- tion or knowledge of any person in the place, and with very little money in his pocket. In New York he found an old printer of Pennsylvania, who, owing to a quarrel with the Governor of that Colony, had removed to New York. He could give Franklin no employment but gave him a letter to his son, who he thought could obtain a position for Franklin, who started at once by boat for Amboy, leaving his chest and other things to follow him round by sea. His adventures on that trip, as related in his Autobiography, are alike interesting and amusing. From Amboy he proceeded on foot to Burling- ton, a distance of fifty miles. The last night of that tramp he stopped at an inn kept by a Dr. Brown whom he found very friendly and obliging, and the acquaintance thus begun, continued all through his life. When he arrived at Burling- ton, the boat had left and no other was expected to sail until Tuesday, three days later, but that evening as he was walking along the river bank, a boat came along bound for Philadel- phia, and he engaged passage on her. There was no wind so they rowed all the way to Philadelphia, where they landed Sunday morning at eight o'clock.
Franklin is very minute and particular in his description of his first entry into that city, doubtless having in mind the figure he afterwards made there. He was in his working clothes with his pockets stuffed with shirts and stockings. He was dirty from being so long on the boat. He was fatigued with walking, rowing and the want of sleep and withal very hungry. He knew no one and did not know where to look for lodgings. His entire cash capital amounted to one dollar and one shilling in copper coins, and this shilling he insisted the boatman should take for the passage.
Entering a bake shop he bought three pennies' worth of rolls, and having no room in his pockets, he put a roll under each arm and eating the other, he proceeded leisurely up Market Street, as far as Fourth Street, passing the house of Mr. Reed, his future father-in-law, and his bride to be stood on the doorsteps smiling at him as he passed.
252
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
Through the influence of Mr. Bradford he secured a posi- tion with Mr. Keiner, a printer, and through this connection he made the acquaintance of Sir William Keith, Governor of Pennsylvania. The Governor was greatly impressed with Franklin's appearance and ability and offered to set him up in the printing business. He also promised him the State printing, and induced Franklin to go to England, and pur- chase the necessary materials for establishing himself in the printing business. "On reaching London in 1725, Franklin found himself entirely deceived in the Governor's promised letter of credit and recommendation, and being as before, in a strange place, without money or acquaintance, he went to work once more as a compositor."
He remained in England about a year and a half and then returned to Philadelphia and commenced business as a printer and stationer and in 1728 he established a newspaper. He published his "Poor Richard's Almanac" in 1732, which be- came noted for its pithy sayings, some original, but mostly taken from various sources, ancient and modern. In 1736 he was appointed Clerk in the General Assembly of Pennsyl- vania, and the year following was made Postmaster of Phil- adelphia. In the French War of 1744 the Quakers who were in the majority in the Legislature of Pennsylvania, opposed the passage of a militia law and the adoption of precautions for defence. Franklin proposed to accomplish the object by voluntary subscription and he set forth its importance in a pamphlet entitled "Plain Truth," which had great influence. In 1746 he commenced his electrical experiments, making several important discoveries. As a representative to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania in 1747 he distinguished himself by several acts of public utility.
This second visit was under very different auspices from those which attended his visit in 1725. Then he went a poor printer relying upon the imaginary influence of the graceless Sir William Keith, who had cajoled him with chimerical promises and sham letters of recommendation. "Now, it was Franklin, the eminent philosopher and discoverer, the gifted writer and sagacious statesman, who took up temporary resi- dence in London." His electrical discoveries had been pro- mulgated two years before, his first letters on the subject being addressed to Peter Collinson, a member of the Royal Society. In 1749 he suggested an explanation of the Aurora Borealis, and thunder gusts on electrical principles. But it
253
WL'alks and Talks About Historic Boston.
was not until the summer of 1752 that he resorted to the ex- periment of a common kite and by means of it converted what was theory into scientific truth. He prepared a kite from a silk handkerchief, as being less likely to be affected by rain, than paper. To the upright stick of the frame he attached an iron point. The string was, as usual, of hemp, except the lower end, which was of silk, and where the hempen and silken cords were united he fastened a metallic key. With this apparatus he went forth with his son into the fields, as a thunder storm was coming on, to try the experiment, the memory of which was to be immortal.
Well knowing the ridicule which is called forth when scien- tific experiments are unsuccessful, he kept his intentions a secret from all but his companion. He placed himself under a shed to avoid the rain. The kite was raised. A thunder storm passed over it. No sign of electricity appeared. Franklin began to despair of success, when suddenly he saw the loose fibres of his string in motion and bristling in an upright position as if placed on a conductor. On applying his knuckle to the key, he experienced a smart shock. Here was his theory verified. As his string became wet with the rain it operated better as a conductor and he was able to collect an abundant supply of electricity, with which he charged a jar. His experiment was made in June, 1752. It had been successfully performed according to Franklin's original plan by means of a pivoted bar of iron, about a month previous in Paris, by M. De Lor, but Franklin had not been apprised either of the attempt or the result at the time of making his experiment with the kite. He afterwards had an isolated rod constructed to draw the lightning into his house, with a bell attached, in order to inform him when the rod was affected by electricity. "The scientific men of France, how- ever, did ample justice to Franklin's merits, and at length the experiment of drawing lightning from the clouds by a pointed rod having been verified in England, the Royal Society made amends for its neglect by choosing him a mem- ber, exempting him from the customary admission fee of twenty-five guineas, and in 1753 presented him with the Gold Medal of Sir Geoffrey Copley."
"The fame of Franklin," says Mignet, "rapidly spread with his theory over the whole world." The Philadelphia sage be- came the object of universal regard and was abundantly loaded with academic honors. The Academy of Sciences in
254
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
Paris, made him an associate member, as it had Newton and Liebrutz. All the learned bodies in Europe eagerly admitted him into their ranks." To this scientific glory he added high political distinction.
To this man, happy, because he was intelligent, great, be- cause he had an active genius and a devoted heart, was ac- corded the rare felicity of serving his country skilfully and usefully, for a period of fifty years; and after having taken, rank among the immortal founders of the positive sciences, he also enrolled himself among the generous liberators of the nations. Franklin was most hospitably received in England on the occasion of this second visit, which lasted from July 27, 1757, to the latter part of August 1762.
In a literary and religious sense it was an important epoch in the history of England. "Ben Johnson was publishing his 'Idler ;' Burke had just given to the world his essay on the 'Sublime and Beautiful.' and was editing the 'Annual Reg- ister ;' Hume was completing his 'History of England ;' Stern was publishing his 'Tristam Shandy'; Swedenborg was residing obscurely in London engaged in his mystical writ- ings: Goldsmith was just launching upon a literary career ; Garrick was electrifying the town with his acting; and the Brothers Wesley were engaged in their extraordinary labors for the establishment of a reformed Protestantism. Sir Isaac Newton had died thirty years before." We do not know that Franklin became acquainted with any of these distinguished persons, except Hume, Garrick and Burke. Franklin, on his arrival in London took lodgings in a house on Craven Street near the Strand where he remained during the whole period of his stay in England. He became deeply attached to the landlady and her family. William Strahan, the King's printer, and a member of Parliament, was one of Franklin's most intimate friends, and was a great admirer of Franklin and in writing to Mr. Franklin in 1759, he says: "I never saw a man who was in every respect so perfectly agreeable to me. Some are amiable in one way, and some in another, he in all." "It is a painful example of the estrangements produced by war, to read in connection with this, the following letter (supposed by some to be not wholly serious) from Franklin to Strahan, eighteen years afterwards:
Philadelphia, July 5, 1775.
Mr. Strahan :
You are a member of Parliament and one of that majority
253
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
which doomed my country to destruction. You have begun to burn our homes and murder our people. Look upon your hands, they are stained with the blood of your relations. You and I were long friends. You are my enemy and I am yours, B. Franklin.
After the independence of the Colonies was acknowledged, the friendly intercourse of Franklin and Strahan was resumed and the ties were reknit with added warmth on both sides. Franklin entered into the object of his mission with his usual alacrity and fidelity of attention. His mission was to break up a land monopoly which existed in the Province of Penn- sylvania. Thomas Penn the son of William Penn, by his sec- ond wife, became by inheritance, proprietary of three-fourths of the Province, his brother Richard, proprietary of the re- mainder. To extend their influence the proprietaries had claimed the appointment of judicial and other officers. They had forbidden all other persons to purchase land of the na- tives, thus establishing a monopoly in their own favor and they insisted on the exemption of their immense estate from taxation.
The Governor of the Province was the nominee of the pro- prietaries and there were constant disputes between him and the General Assembly over these matters. The ready pen and clear judgment of Franklin were frequently called into requi- sition in drawing up reports and representations to the pro- prietaries and their associates and having at last shown him- self more than a match for the writers on the other side, the General Assembly sent him as their Agent to England to rep- resent their case to the King. The newspapers in England were mostly in favor of the proprietaries and public opinion was thus prejudiced against the Assembly. Franklin at once set about to correct public opinion through the same channel, the press. He had an interview with the proprietaries resi- dent in England and discussed the points of difference, but the Messrs. Penn would not relax in their arbitrary claims. They seemed ambitious of holding the whole population of Pennsylvania in a state of vassalage. Finally the Assembly passed a bill taxing the vast estates of the proprietaries and other laws of a similar nature were passed and signed by the Governor who was removed by the Penns. The laws were sent to the king for his approval, while the Penns petitioned for a veto on them. The matter was referred to the Board of Trade, who decided in 1760 that the Assembly had a right
256
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
to tax the estates, specifying some modifications of the Act, which were readily consented to by Franklin, who proved himself a prudent and faithful negotiator.
At this time England was at war with France, and it was largely through the influence of Franklin, whose ser- vices were sought after by Lord Chatham, then Prime Minister that the scene of hostilities was changed from Europe to America, resulting in the brilliant victory of General Wolfe, and the annexation of the Province of Canada to the British Empire. Parliament granted thirty thousand pounds to Pennsylvania for military and other expenses and Franklin was appointed by the Assembly to receive and invest the same. Although acting in opposi- tion to the Proprietaries, the latter were forced to admit that his course was fair and unobjectionable. "I do not find," writes Thomas Penn, "that he has done me any prejudice with any party."
The story of this sojourn of Franklin in England is a most interesting one. He devoted the greater part of his time to philosophical and electrical matters. "He had very keen powers of observation and inference. Observation conducted him to discovery and inference to practical ap- plication of it."
In 1759 the University of St. Andrews conferred upon Franklin the Degree of Doctor of Laws and in the sum- mer of that year he made a visit to Scotland, where he formed the acquaintance of David Hume, and Dr. Robert- son, the Historians, Lord Komes and other eminent men. When Franklin was about to return to America, David Hume wrote him: "I am very sorry that you intend to leave our hemisphere. America has sent us many good things; gold, silver, sugar, tobacco, indigo, etc., but you are the first philosopher, and, indeed, the first great man of letters, for whom we are beholden to her."
In August, 1762, Franklin sailed for America. Owing to the war with France his vessel was under convoy of a man-of-war and was obliged to touch at Madrid, where he remained a few days. On the Ist of November he arrived in America and received an enthusiastic vote of thanks for the faithful discharge of the duties imposed upon him and the Assembly voted him the sum of three thousand pounds sterling in token of their appreciation of his services.
257
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
On his arrival home he found that there was serious trouble between the back settlers and the Indians. Hun- dreds of persons were plundered and slain. Some of the Indians were living peaceably under the charge of Mora- vian missionaries and six of these were slaughtered in cold blood by the Indian haters, and a number of the In- dians fleeing for their lives were pursued into Philadlphia.
Franklin was ever on the side of humanity and justice, and these persecuted Indians found in him a zealous cham- pion and protector.
The rioters having advanced as far as Germantown, within six miles of Philadelphia, Franklin, with three other influental citizens, was deputed to go out and confer with them. They were received with respect and they prevailed uopn the rioters to abandon their hostile project. The war between the Assembly and the proprietaries still continued and as leader of the opposition Franklin became the target of the most vindictive assaults. Some of the men opposed to him had long been his associates in public and private life, and Franklin felt their estrangement very keenly. Before departing for England on his second mission, Frank- lin wrote the following: "I am now to take my leave, per- haps my final leave of the country I love and in which I have spent the greater part of my life 'Esto perpetua!' I wish every kind of prosperity to my friends and I forgive my enemies !"
He arrived in England December 1764, and had been there but a few months, when, in opposition to the remonstrances of Franklin and the Massachusetts Agents in England, the "Stamp Act" was passed by Parliament.
In February 1766, he was summoned before the House of Commons and subjected to an examination upon facts rela- tive to the repeal of the "Stamp Act."
"Without preparations he submitted to a series of very close inquiries. Various in their character and demanding very extensive information in the respondent. The promptitude, sagacity and independence of his replies with the simple and expressive diction in which they were conveyed and his self poise and unassuming deportment commanded the respect of all parties.
He said there was not gold or silver enough in the Colo- nies to pay the tax for one year, that it was not true that America was protected by Great Britain and paid no part of
258
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
the expense ; that the Colonies raised, clothed and paid during the last war near twenty-five thousand men and spent many millions ; that the temper of America towards Great Britain before the year 1763, was the best in the world, and to be an old England man was of itself a character of respect and gave a kind of rank among Americans but that their temper now was very much altered. When asked if he thought that America would submit to pay the Stamp Duty if lessened, he replied, "No, never, unless compelled by force of arms." "May not a military force carry the Stamp Act into execu- tion?" asked one of his interrogators. Franklin replied, "Suppose a military force be sent to America, they will find nobody in arms, what are they to do?" "They cannot force a man to take stamps who chooses to do without them." "Suppose the Stamp Act continued and enforced, do you imagine that ill humor will induce the Americans to give as much for worse manufactures of their own and use them in preference to better of ours?" "Yes, I think so. People will pay as freely to gratify one passion as another, their resent- ment is their pride."
"What are the body of the people of the Colonies?" They are farmers, husbandmen, or planters." "Would they suffer the products of their lands to rot?" "No, but they would not raise too much. They would manufacture and raise less."
In less than three months after Franklin's examination, a bill was introduced into the House of Commons to repeal the Stamp Act. His voice spoke in no uncertain tones concern- ing the land of his birth and the land he loved.
Space will not permit of giving all the details of Frank- lin's great and patriotic work during the sojourn in England. His voice and his trenchant pen and his magnetic personality were devoted without stint to the service of his beloved land. Notwithstanding the absorbing nature of his political busi- ness he gave much time to scientific and economic questions of public utility.
In 1774, the British ministry dismissed Franklin from the office of Deputy Postmaster of the Colonies. The im- mediate cause of this dismissal was his agency in com- municating to the public certain original letters written in Massachusetts by Governor Hutchinson, Lieut. Governor Oli- ver and others addressed to Mr. Thomas Whately, Member of Parliament. These letters were transmitted by Franklin to Mr. Thomas Cushing, Chairman of the Massachusetts Com-
259
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
mittee of Correspondence. In his letter to Mr. Cushing he says: "I am not at liberty to tell through what channels I re- ceived it, and I have engaged that it shall not be printed, ror copies taken of the whole or any part of it, but I am allowed to let it be seen by some of worth in the Province for their satisfaction only. In confidence of your preserving inviolably my engagement, I send you inclosed the original letters, to ob- viate any pretence of unfairness, in copying, interpolation or omission."
He added a request that the package of letters be returned. Franklin stated under oath, that these letters in question were given to him and came into his hands as Agent for the House of Representatives of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, that when given to him he did not know to whom they were ad- dressed-no address appearing upon any. Nor did he know before that any such letters existed, that he did not cause the letters to be printed, nor direct the doing of it, that he did not erase any address that might have been on the letters. "Mean- time the greatest abuse was heaped upon Franklin, but his de- meanor all through, this shameful and ribald attack, was calm and dignified. The Lords of the Council seemed to enjoy the abuse heaped upon Franklin, and with the exception of Lord North, frequently laughed outright. In less than a year after this disgraceful scene at the Council Board, Lord Howe ap- pealed to Franklin's magnanimity "not to consider this ill treatment by the Ministry ; that some of them were ashamed of it and sorry that it happened; which he supposed must be sufficient to abate resentment in a great and generous mind."
The first Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia, September 17, 1774. In December, following, their petition to the King was forwarded under cover to Franklin.
Lord Chatham, who had taken a bold and decided stand on the side of the Colonies, had long been admired by Franklin at a distance. "Circumstances now brought them together, and their intercourse throughout was of a character honorable to both parties. His lordship's vindication of Franklin from the aspersions of Lord Sandwich, in the House of Lords, is a tribute that outweighs all the abuse ever lavished upon the American sage by the supporters of the ministry." An elec- tion had taken place, which gave Lord North and his col- leagues an overwhelming majority in Parliament.
In an indirect way the ministry sought the good offices of Franklin to bring about a settlement with the Colonies. "A
200
Wl'alks and Talks About Historic Boston.
certain lady, the the sister of Lord Howe, expressed a desire to play chess with Franklin, and he accepted the invitation, with no apprehension that any political business would have any connection with the new acquaintance. Franklin says : "After playing as long as we liked, we fell into a little chat, partly on a mathematical problem, partly about the new Parlia- ment, then just met, when she said, "What is to be done with this dispute between Great Britain and the Colonies?" "They should kiss and be friends," said I, "what can they do better? Quarrelling can be no service to either, but ruin to both." "I have often said," relied she, "that I wish Government would employ you to settle the dispute, for I am sure nobody could do it so well. Do not you think that the thing is practicable?" "Undoubtedly, Madame, if the parties are disposed to recon- ciliation, for the two countries have no clashing interests to differ about. It is rather a strife of principles, which two or three reasonable people might settle in half an hour. I thank you for the good opinion you are pleased to express of me, but the ministers will never think of employing me in this good work, they choose rather to abuse me." "Ah," said she, "they have behaved shamefully to you, and, indeed, some of them are now ashamed of themselves."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.