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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 97
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council, where there was great drinking of Madeira wine, as the custom of that
place then was, he softened by degrees, and said he would lend us six. After a
few more bumpers he advanc'd to ten; and at length he very good-naturedly
conceded eighteen. They were fine cannon, eighteen-pounders, with their
carriages, which we soon transported and mounted on our battery, where the
associators kept a nightly guard while the war lasted, and among the rest I
regularly took my turn of duty there as a common soldier.
My activity in these operations was agreeable to the governor and council; they
took me into confidence, and I was consulted by them in every measure wherein
their concurrence was thought useful to the association. Calling in the aid of
religion, I propos'd to them the proclaiming a fast, to promote reformation, and
implore the blessing of Heaven on our undertaking. They embrac'd the motion;
but, as it was the first fast ever thought of in the province, the secretary had
no precedent from which to draw the proclamation. My education in New England,
where a fast is proclaimed every year, was here of some advantage: I drew it in
the accustomed stile, it was translated into German, printed in both languages,
and divulg'd thro' the province. This gave the clergy of the different sects an
opportunity of influencing their congregations to join in the association, and
it would probably have been general among all but Quakers if the peace had not
soon interven'd.
It was thought by some of my friends that, by my activity in these affairs, I
should offend that sect, and thereby lose my interest in the Assembly of the
province, where they formed a great majority. A young gentleman who had likewise
some friends in the House, and wished to succeed me as their clerk, acquainted
me that it was decided to displace me at the next election; and he, therefore,
in good will, advis'd me to resign, as more consistent with my honour than being
turn'd out. My answer to him was, that I had read or heard of some public man
who made it a rule never to ask for an office, and never to refuse one when
offer'd to him. "I approve," says I, "of his rule, and will practice it with a
small addition; I shall never ask, never refuse, nor ever resign an office. If
they will have my office of clerk to dispose of to another, they shall take it
from me. I will not, by giving it up, lose my right of some time or other making
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