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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 43
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name, a Sir William Wyndham, and I waited upon him. He had heard by some means
or other of my swimming from Chelsea to Blackfriar's, and of my teaching Wygate
and another young man to swim in a few hours. He had two sons, about to set out
on their travels; he wish'd to have them first taught swimming, and proposed to
gratify me handsomely if I would teach them. They were not yet come to town, and
my stay was uncertain, so I could not undertake it; but, from this incident, I
thought it likely that, if I were to remain in England and open a
swimming-school, I might get a good deal of money; and it struck me so strongly,
that, had the overture been sooner made me, probably I should not so soon have
returned to America. After many years, you and I had something of more
importance to do with one of these sons of Sir William Wyndham, become Earl of
Egremont, which I shall mention in its place.
Thus I spent about eighteen months in London; most part of the time I work'd
hard at my business, and spent but little upon myself except in seeing plays and
in books. My friend Ralph had kept me poor; he owed me about twenty-seven
pounds, which I was now never likely to receive; a great sum out of my small
earnings! I lov'd him, notwithstanding, for he had many amiable qualities. I had
by no means improv'd my fortune; but I had picked up some very ingenious
acquaintance, whose conversation was of great advantage to me; and I had read
considerably.
We sail'd from Gravesend on the 23d of July, 1726. For the incidents of the
voyage, I refer you to my journal, where you will find them all minutely
related. Perhaps the most important part of that journal is the plan(5) to be
found in it, which I formed at sea, for regulating my future conduct in life. It
is the more remarkable, as being formed when I was so young, and yet being
pretty faithfully adhered to quite thro' to old age.
We landed in Philadelphia on the 11th of October, where I found sundry
alterations. Keith was no longer governor, being superseded by Major Gordon. I
met him walking the streets as a common citizen. He seem'd a little asham'd at
seeing me, but pass'd without saying anything. I should have been as much
asham'd at seeing Miss Read, had not her friends, despairing with reason of my
return after the receipt of my letter, persuaded her to marry another, one
Rogers, a potter, which was done in my absence. With him, however, she was never
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