|
"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 29
of 154
appearance of cordiality, that I had not the least doubt of his meaning what he
said. I had hitherto kept the proposition of my setting up, a secret in
Philadelphia, and I still kept it. Had lt been known that I depended on the
governor, probably some friend, that knew him better, would have advis'd me not
to rely on him, as I afterwards heard it as his known character to be liberal of
promises which he never meant to keep. Yet, unsolicited as he was by me, how
could I think his generous offers insincere? I believ'd him one of the best men
in the world.
I presented him an inventory of a little print'g-house, amounting by my
computation to about one hundred pounds sterling. He lik'd it, but ask'd me if
my being on the spot in England to chuse the types, and see that every thing was
good of the kind, might not be of some advantage. "Then," says he, "when there,
you may make acquaintances, and establish correspondences in the bookselling and
stationery way." I agreed that this might be advantageous. "Then," says he, "get
yourself ready to go with Annis;" which was the annual ship, and the only one at
that time usually passing between London and Philadelphia. But it would be some
months before Annis sail'd, so I continu'd working with Keimer, fretting about
the money Collins had got from me, and in daily apprehensions of being call'd
upon by Vernon, which, however, did not happen for some years after.
I believe I have omitted mentioning that, in my first voyage from Boston, being
becalm'd off Block Island, our people set about catching cod, and hauled up a
great many. Hitherto I had stuck to my resolution of not eating animal food, and
on this occasion consider'd, with my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a
kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had, or ever could do us any
injury that might justify the slaughter. All this seemed very reasonable. But I
had formerly been a great lover of fish, and, when this came hot out of the
frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanc'd some time between principle and
inclination, till I recollected that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller
fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, "If you eat one another, I
don't see why we mayn't eat you." So I din'd upon cod very heartily, and
continued to eat with other people, returning only now and then occasionally to
a vegetable diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since
|