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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 27
of 154
that had been taken out of his cabbin, and, knowing that these were a couple of
strumpets, he got a warrant to search their lodgings, found the stolen goods,
and had the thieves punish'd. So, tho' we had escap'd a sunken rock, which we
scrap'd upon in the passage, I thought this escape of rather more importance to
me.
At New York I found my friend Collins, who had arriv'd there some time before
me. We had been intimate from children, and had read the same books together;
but he had the advantage of more time for reading and studying, and a wonderful
genius for mathematical learning, in which he far outstript me. While I liv'd in
Boston most of my hours of leisure for conversation were spent with him, and he
continu'd a sober as well as an industrious lad; was much respected for his
learning by several of the clergy and other gentlemen, and seemed to promise
making a good figure in life. But, during my absence, he had acquir'd a habit of
sotting with brandy; and I found by his own account, and what I heard from
others, that he had been drunk every day since his arrival at New York, and
behav'd very oddly. He had gam'd, too, and lost his money, so that I was oblig'd
to discharge his lodgings, and defray his expenses to and at Philadelphia, which
prov'd extremely inconvenient to me.
The then governor of New York, Burnet (son of Bishop Burnet), hearing from the
captain that a young man, one of his passengers, had a great many books, desir'd
he would bring me to see him. I waited upon him accordingly, and should have
taken Collins with me but that he was not sober. The gov'r. treated me with
great civility, show'd me his library, which was a very large one, and we had a
good deal of conversation about books and authors. This was the second governor
who had done me the honor to take notice of me; which, to a poor boy like me,
was very pleasing.
We proceeded to Philadelphia. I received on the way Vernon's money, without
which we could hardly have finish'd our journey. Collins wished to be employ'd
in some counting-house, but, whether they discover'd his dramming by his breath,
or by his behaviour, tho' he had some recommendations, he met with no success in
any application, and continu'd lodging and boarding at the same house with me,
and at my expense. Knowing I had that money of Vernon's, he was continually
borrowing of me, still promising repayment as soon as he should be in business.
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