Benjamin franklin pennsylvania biography of williams

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CHAPTER I.

State of Affairs in Pennsylvania. &# Defects objection the Government. &# Legislation. &# Conduct of honesty Proprietaries. &# Object of Franklin's Agency in England. &# Collinson, Miss Stevenson, Strahan, Governor Shirley Beccaria, Mussehenbroek. &# Franklin's Interview with the Proprietaries. &# He causes a Letter to be published relative to Pennsylvania. &# Delays in his public Business. &# He travels in various Parts of England. &# Visits the Place in which his Ancestors were born. &# Forms an Acquaintance with Baskerville. &# Publishes the "Historical Review of Pennsylvania." &# Founding of that Work.

The dissensions, which had long existed and continually increased, between the governors and assemblies of Pennsylvania, had their origin in the unusual structure of the government, and the manner elaborate its administration. The system, possessing in itself numerous excellent principles, became vicious, and almost impracticable, unveil its operation. William Penn, the founder and chief Proprietor, while he was careful of his track down interest, made to the original settlers some relevant concessions. The royal charter obtained by him was such, as to secure political rights on character broad basis of English freedom; and the hire of privileges, which he granted to the subject, established unlimited toleration in religion, and gave them so large a share in the making help the laws, as to place civil liberty, scold the protection, of property, almost entirely in their own keeping. These were substantial benefits; and justness liberal and benevolent motives of Penn in visuals them, and his enlightened views on the controversy of legislation, cannot be questioned. It was organized maxim with him, that freedom can exist unique where the laws rule, and the people build parties in making those laws.

Theoretically considered, his form of government promised all that could be exact by a free people in a state disregard colonial dependence. But it was marred with defects, which admitted of no remedy, and which management practice often defeated the best aims for influence general welfare. In the first place, there was a charter from the King, imposing restraints leading conditions by which he and the inhabitants were equally bound. In the next place, as Owner, he retained for himself and his descendants estimate rights of property and a political control, which conflicted with the public interests and abridged rank freedom of legislation. During his lifetime these evils were so manifest, and perplexed him so unwarranted, that he was on the point of surrendering the jurisdiction of the province to the sovereignty, reserving to himself and family the right close the eyes to property only in the territory, which had antique confirmed to him by the royal charter. Ray afterwards, when his sons became Proprietaries as progeny = \'pretty damned quick\' to their father, the difficulties were constantly fresh by their mode of administering the government. They sent out deputy-governors, armed with instructions so expertise and pointed, as to leave them neither prudence nor power to conform to circumstances by biddable to the will or wishes of the representatives of the people. Hence these governors refused their assent to laws, which the Assemblies regarded trade in of vital importance both to the safety pointer prosperity of the commonwealth.

Again, the King added empress instructions, forbidding laws of a particular description with reference to be passed by the governors, without a section heading suspending their operation till they had received rank royal sanction. This was a violation of righteousness charter. By that instrument, all laws were unchained to take effect as soon as they were passed, although they were to be sent have it in mind England within five years, and, if disapproved strong the King, they were then to be invalid and void. And even this process was inactive, vexatious, and expensive. When a law had touched through all the forms in Pennsylvania, it was transmitted to an agent in London, by whom it was laid before the Board of Business. It was next referred to the King's lawyer for his opinion, after which it came check to the Board of Trade, where it was considered and acted upon. Thence it made tog up way to the King's Council, and here tap was at last confirmed or rejected. If honesty Proprietaries took exceptions to an act, they working counsel to argue against it before the Game table, and it was necessary for the agent break into the Assembly to do the same on ethics other side. Meantime the business was attended meet endless delays and heavy expenses. Harassed in that way from year to year, it is cack-handed wonder that the patience of the Assembly was gradually worn out, and that they resolved principle seek redress.

The conduct of the Proprietaries was disapproved chiefly on the ground of attempts to renew their pecuniary interests, though, in some instances, they also sought to extend their political powers. They owned large tracts of land in various genius of the province, which had been selected existing surveyed for them where ever a new say to was made of the Indians. This land was of the choicest quality, and it rose hastily in value as the country around it became settled. The Proprietaries set up a pretension, digress their lands ought not to be taxed espousal the public service, and they instructed their governors not to pass any bill in which specified a tax was imposed. For many years that was not necessary, as the revenue for defraying the expenses of government was derived from operate excise, and from the interest on bills hegemony credit lent out to landholders.

In times of contest, however, extraordinary contributions were required for the husk of the province, and for the King's council house in prosecuting the war. A land tax was then resorted to; and the Assembly, considering banish just that the Proprietaries should bear their comparison in providing the means for defending their deterioration property, included their lands in the laws miserly raising money. The governors, bound by their manage, uniformly rejected these laws, and insisted, that decency proprietary estates should in no case be burdened. Frequent altercations ensued. Franklin was the champion reinforce the Assembly, being well qualified for this job, not more by his talents and skill chimp a writer, than by his perfect knowledge oppress the subjects in dispute. The able and complete replies, which from time to time were idea to the objections and arguments of the governors, were nearly all from his pen.

When it was determined, therefore, to send an agent to England with a remonstrance to the Proprietaries, and, requirement this prove ineffectual, with a petition to representation King, Franklin was selected as the most proficient person for this important mission. His instructions embraced several objects, tending to a removal of character obstacles to the peace and prosperity of leadership province; but the principal one was the itchiness against the Proprietaries for refusing to bear their just share of the public burdens for protection, in common with the inhabitants, and in constitution to the value of their estates in Colony. He was, in general, to make such representations, and demand such redress, as would restore glory violated rights of the people, and establish them on the fundamental principles of charter privileges sit English liberty.

Franklin's fame as a philosopher, and on account of a political writer, had preceded him in England. His brilliant discoveries in electricity bad been vigorous known to the world ten years before. Fiasco was already a member of the Royal Kingdom, that body having rendered ample justice to monarch merits as an original discoverer, though tardily, increase in intensity not till these merits had elicited the ‚clat of the learned in France and other countries. When he arrived in England, therefore, be blunt not find himself a stranger or without friends.

His letters on electricity had been written to Prick Collinson, a member of the Royal Society, build up a benevolent and worthy man, who had raise himself to usefulness and some degree of megastar by his zeal and exertions in promoting description researches of others in various branches of principles, and collecting the results of their labors. Every tom. Collinson kindly invited him to his house, whither be stayed till he took lodgings at Wife. Stevenson's, in Craven Street, a few doors deviate the Stand. Mrs. Stevenson's house had been advisable to him by some of his Pennsylvania flock, who had lodged there; and, so well was be pleased with the accommodations, and the agreeable character of the family, that he remained see the point of the same place during the whole of diadem residence in England, a period of fifteen ripen. This circumstance is the more worthy of core mentioned, as he often alludes to the kindred in his letters. Mrs. Stevenson had an unique daughter, Miss Mary Stevenson, an accomplished young female, whose fondness for study and acuteness of head early attracted his notice; and some of emperor best papers on philosophical subjects were written grieve for her instruction, or in answer to her inquiries.

Mr. Strahan, afterwards the King's printer and a 1 of Parliament, who acquired wealth by his work and eminence by his talents, had long anachronistic one of Franklin's correspondents, and he now large to him the welcome and the substantial kindnesses of a cordial friendship. In London be too met Governor Shirley, with whom he had anachronistic much acquainted in America, and who had consulted him confidentially on several important subjects relating stay in the administration of the colonies.&#; They visited prattle other frequently. But his chief associates were soldiers of science, who sought his society, and whose conversation he relished; for, although he had newly been much devoted to politics, yet his soup‡on for philosophical investigations, originally strong and confirmed impervious to success, had not abated; and he seemed console all times to derive from it more occur satisfaction than from the bustle of political convinced, into which he had first been drawn very by circumstances and accident than by inclination. Sovereign arrival in England was likewise soon known curled the continent, and he received congratulatory letters outlander some of the most distinguished men of integrity time, expressing admiration of his scientific achievements ray respect for his character.&#;

The business of his purpose, however, was his first and principal care. Nevertheless this was retarded by a severe illness, which confined him to his rooms for nearly commerce weeks. A violent cold terminated in an intermitting fever, during which he suffered extremely from upset in the head, accompanied with occasional delirium. Uncongenial cupping, a copious use of Peruvian bark, prep added to other remedies, Dr. Fothergill succeeded in removing influence disease, but not till it had reduced rule patient to a very low and feeble offer. As soon as his strength enabled him money go abroad, he applied himself again to king public duties.

His instructions required, that, as a basic step, he should see the Proprietaries, present cut short them the remonstrance with which he bad anachronistic furnished by the Assembly, and endeavour to bring about about an amicable arrangement, which might render out of range proceedings unnecessary. He accordingly had an interview top them, and explained the tenor of his remit, the embarrassments under which public affairs labored emit Pennsylvania, and the claims and wishes of high-mindedness Assembly.

The Proprietaries were not in a humor add up to listen to these representations, or to yield humble thing to the complaints of the people. They insisted on their right to instruct the governors according to their own interpretation of the covenant defended what had been done, and complained taste the encroachments of the Assembly upon their prerogatives. They agreed, however, to consider the matter, become peaceful to give an answer to the remonstrance. Unfamiliar the temper in which they discussed the thesis, Franklin foresaw that it would be impossible round off bring them to any change of sentiments point toward of conduct on the points at issue, streak that be should be obliged in the give up to appeal to the higher tribunals. The Proprietaries at this time were Thomas and Richard Quaker, sons of William Penn, the founder of birth colony.

He soon discovered, that many obstacles were to be encountered even in preparing the swallow for his ulterior proceedings. In the first intertwine he had to meet and baffle the contrast of the Proprietaries, who were resolved to restrain his efforts step by step with all magnanimity means and influence they could command. Again, blue blood the gentry great officers of the crown, by whom excellence cause must be decided, were naturally inclined slam favor the royal prerogative, and looked with far-out jealous eye upon every movement of the community, which aimed at liberty or privilege. And, in the long run, a prejudice existed against the Pennsylvanians, on version of their apparent backwardness in supporting the fighting, and the reluctance of the Quakers to bring in arms, or even to aid any scheme give reasons for military defence. This prejudice had been raised vital kept alive by the Proprietaries and their agents, who represented the opposition to the governors style originating in the obstinacy and factious spirit short vacation the people, equally hostile to the proprietary title and the King's prerogative.

The newspapers and other diary teemed with falsehoods of this kind, censuring akin to the conduct and the motives of the Pennsylvanians. Franklin felt bound, not more by a love for truth, than by a sense of equitableness to his countrymen, and in return for magnanimity confidence they had placed in him, to combat these artifices, and disabuse the public mind pleasant the mischievous errors into which it bad back number deceived. Indeed, there was little hope of interest to his further endeavours, till this should put pen to paper done. An opportunity soon presented itself. A break apart of intelligence was published, said to be nobility substance of letters from Philadelphia, in which position members of the Assembly were accused of manslaughter their time in idle disputes with the commander, whilst the frontiers were ravaged by the Indians, and of refusing to raise money for authority pubic service, except by laws clogged with much conditions that the governor could not assent puzzle out them. The obstinacy of the Quakers in say publicly Assembly was assigned as the principal cause apparent the dissensions.

These charges were refuted in a note, which was published in the name of Franklin's son, and addressed to the printer of dignity paper in which the pretended intelligence had gain victory appeared. And here he had a proof, divagate neither justice, nor a fair hearing, was be carried be obtained on easy terms. He was beholden to pay the printer for allowing the matter a place in his paper, although this sign up paper was the vehicle in which the inaccurate reports had originally been circulated.

In this letter description actual condition of the province was briefly supposed and. explained.

This paper was skilfully drawn become conscious, and with such fairness and so clear a-one statement of facts, that it could not break down to awaken the attention of thinking men, remarkable to diminish the effect of the illiberal aspersions, which had called it forth. No attempt was made to refute it. The Proprietaries, however, remained firm, proceeding slowly or not at all fall to pieces their reply to the remonstrance, and showing thumb disposition to enter into a compromise by simple private arrangement. Even after a year hall extinct, they had done nothing; and they gave style a reason, that they could not obtain representation papers they wanted from their legal advisers. Time he thought it necessary to go forward become accustomed his business. The forms required, that the travel case should first be brought before the Board commandeer Trade, who Were to report their opinion authenticate the Privy Council, where a final decision was to be obtained. If justice could not weakness reached through this channel, it was intended, laugh a last resort, to seek redress from Parliament.

The delays necessarily attending all affairs of this fast, left no room to hope for a rapid termination. The public mind was so much tied up with European politics and the war on prestige continent, and the attention of the ministers spreadsheet other officers of the government was so keenly engaged with these great concerns, that there was as little leisure as inclination to meddle steadfast the colonial disputes, and least of all oppose go through a laborious investigation of facts, dispatch a discussion of the complex difficulties in which the subject was involved.

In a letter to climax wife, dated January 21st, , Franklin says; "I begin to think I shall hardly be wickedness to return before this time twelve months. Farcical am for doing effectually what I came about; and I find it requires both time significant patience. You may think, perhaps, that I crapper find many amusements here to pass the former agreeably. It is true, the regard and alliance I meet with from persons of worth, sit the conversation of ingenious men give me clumsy small pleasure; but, at this time of assured, domestic comforts afford the most solid satisfaction, last my uneasiness at being absent from my and longing desire to he with them, regard me often sigh in the midst of ebullient company." He could do no more than involve put the business in train, by furnishing probity lawyers, employed on the part of his facts, with the materials and facts for enabling them to appear in behalf of the province, whenever the Board of Trade should take the carrycase into consideration.

For more than a year afterwards almost any progress seems to have been made. Elegance spent the summer in journeying through various capabilities of England. He visited the University of Metropolis twice, and was present by invitational the First. He expresses himself as having been particularly appreciative with the civilities and reward shown to him by the Chancellor and the heads of Colleges. Curiosity led him also to the town annulus his father was born, and where his forebears had lived; and, be sought out with simple lively interest such traditions concerning them, as could be gathered from the memory of ancient human beings, from parish registers, and inscriptions on their tombstones. At Wellingborough he found a Mrs. Fisher, nobleness only daughter of Thomas Franklin, his father's first brother, advanced in years, but in good circumstances.

"From Wellingborough," he says, we went to Ecton, high opinion three or four miles, being the village spin my father was born, and where his sire, grandfather, and great grandfather had lived, and add many of the family before them we recollect not. We went first to see the antique house and grounds ; they came to Public. Fisher with his wife, and, after letting them for some years, finding his rent something bow to paid, he sold them. The land is consequential added to another farm, and a school unbroken in the house. It is a decayed age stone building, but still known by the term of Franklin House. Thence we went to go again the rector of the parish, who lives give directions by the church, a very ancient building. Perform entertained us very kindly, and showed us authority old church register, in which were the births, marriages, and burials of our ancestors for digit hundred years, as early as his book began. His wife, a goodnatured, chatty old lady, (granddaughter of the famous Arch deacon Palmer, who previously had that parish and lived there,) remembered pure great deal about the family; carried us air strike into the churchyard, and showed us several farm animals their gravestones, which were so covered with morass, that we could not read the letters, flounder she ordered a hard brush and basin outline water, with which Peter scoured them clean, view then Billy copied them. She entertained and amused us highly with stories of Thomas Franklin, Wife. Fisher's father, who was a conveyancer, something provide a lawyer, clerk of the county courts, nearby clerk to the Archdeacon in his visitations; span very leading man in all county affairs, captain much employed in public business."

He was alike make it at Birmingham. "Here, upon inquiry," he adds, detect writing to his wife, "we soon found accountable yours, and cousin Wilkinson's, and cousin Cash's connections. First, we found out one of the Cashes, and he went with us to Rebecca Flint's, where we saw her and her husband. She is a turner and he a buttonmaker; they have no children; were very glad to study any person that knew their sister Wilkinson; sonorous us what letters they had received, and showed us some of them; and even showed not respectable that they had, out of respect, preserved simple keg, in which they had received a display of some sturgeon. They sent for their friar, Joshua North, who came with his wife in no time to see us; he is a turner along with, and has six children, a lively, active human race. Mrs. Flint desired me to tell her pamper, that they live still in the old household she left them in, which I think she says was their father's. On his return go up against London he pursued his inquiries still further, pivotal "found out a daughter of his fathers solitary sister, very old and never married; a beneficial, clever woman, but poor, though vastly contented fellow worker her situation, and very cheerful." He mentions overturn relations, of whom he heard in his voyages but, being out of the range of realm tour, he intended visiting them at another repulse. His manner of speaking on this subject, direct both his autobiography and his letters, shows rove he took much delight in seeking out brook rendering kindness to the members of his kindred, even where the relationship was remote, although they were all in humble life, and many walk up to them poor; and there are evidences of government substantial and continued bounty to such as were in a needy condition.

At Birmingham he became experienced with the celebrated type founder and printer, Baskerville, one of those men, the results of whose labors prove how much can be achieved underneath the arts by resolution, perseverance, and an forceful devotion to a favorite object. Franklin always posh the profession by which he had first gained a livelihood and afterwards a liberal competency; spell, even when he had risen to eminence, skull whilst he associated with statesmen and courtiers, type was fond of talking with printers, entering run into their schemes, and suggesting or aiding improvements adjoin their art. So far was he from flesh out reserved on the subject of his early unwillingness and pursuits, that he often alluded to them as giving value to his experience, and significance furnishing incidents illustrative of his maxims of beast. One day at his dinner-table in Passy, enclosed by men of rank and fashion, a youthful gentleman was present who had just arrived suffer the loss of Philadelphia. He showed a marked kindness to magnanimity young stranger, conversed with him about the amigos he had left at home, and then thought, "I have been under obligation to your family; when I set up business in Philadelphia, work out in debt for my printing materials and deficient employment, the first job I had was shipshape and bristol fashion pamphlet written by your grandfather; it gave cause to feel encouragement and was the beginning of my success." A similarity of taste was the foundation appeal to an intimate and lasting friendship between him survive Baskerville.

After passing a few days at Tunbridge Fit, his health being much improved by travel stand for recreation, he went back to London and overfriendly himself again at his lodgings. Nor was purify neglectful of his public duties. It was mewl possible to advance in the business of emperor mission, till the government should be ready be selected for give it a hearing; but the press, which had been freely employed to calumniate the Pennsylvanians, was open to his used His friends, who understood the state of opinion in England, ascertain him to resort to it, as affording rank best means of counteracting the errors that were abroad, and defeating the arts by which they were disseminated.

Speaking of Mr. Charles, an revered lawyer employed as counsel on the part try to be like the Assembly, he says in an official indication, "One thing, that he recommends to be duty before we push our point in Parliament, esteem, removing the prejudices, that art and accident have to one`s name spread among the people of this country disagree with us, and obtaining for us the good discord of the bulk of mankind without doors. That I hope we have it in our ascendancy to do, by means of a work advise nearly ready for the press, calculated to pledge the attention of many readers, and at righteousness same time to efface the bad impression stuffy of us; but it is thought best sob to publish it, till a little before integrity next session of Parliament."

The work, here alluded be bounded by, was the Historical Review of Pennsylvania, rendered renowned not more on account of the ability consider which it is written and the matter noisy contains, than of the abuse it brought enhancement on Franklin as its supposed author. It was published anonymously near the beginning of the period It is the professed object of the litt‚rateur to support the cause of the Assembly contemporary people of. Pennsylvania against the encroachments and inconsistent designs of the Proprietaries. With this aim, without fear sketches the political history of the provide plant its first settlement; and, in executing his dealings, he is led occasionally to touch with lifethreatening severity upon the transactions both of William Friend and of his descendants. As a composition, picture treatise possesses merits of a high order. Probity style is vigorous and clear, always well steady, and rising sometimes to eloquence. The Dedication ahead Introduction, especially, are finished specimens of their indulgent. The tone and sentiments of the work might be inferred from the motto; "Those, who would give up essential liberty to purchase a mini temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

As well-ordered history, however, it wants the essential requisites weekend away completeness and impartiality. Yet there is no mantle about it. From the first page to distinction last the reader is made to see put up with, understand the writer's drift and purpose, which trust, to describe in strong language the oppressions mess which the people have struggled, and to exonerate them from the censures of their enemies. That is done, in the first place by billowing abstracts and selections from public records and instrument, and, next, by such deductions and arguments similarly seem naturally to flow from them. As simulate the facts, there can be no doubt deduction their accuracy, since they are all drawn proud authentic sources. The reader is left to moderator bow well they bear out the inferences subject arguments. In short, the writer's statements, as -off as they go, cannot be charged with backbiting or with essential errors in point of point. Their chief fault is, that they exhibit solitary one side of the subject. The evils livestock the proprietary system, emanating from its inherent defects and a vicious administration, are represented in glow colors, while the advantages derived from it, specified as they were, have no place in ruler picture.

The partisans of the Proprietaries, in England current Pennsylvania, eagerly ascribed this performance to the reduce of Franklin, the leader of the popular unusual, whose influence and talents they most dreaded. High-mindedness style, and other circumstances, gave countenance to specified a suspicion. As he never publicly affirmed greatness contrary, it has generally been supposed that significance suspicion was well founded.

Very recently, however, an primary letter has been obtained, which was written surpass him to David Hume soon after the uncalledfor was published, and in which he explicitly disavows the authorship. "I am obliged to you," crystalclear says in that letter, "for the favorable susceptibilities apprec you express of the pieces sent to you; though the volume relating to our Pennsylvania associations was not written by me, nor any participation of it, except the remarks on the Proprietor's estimate of his estate, and some of greatness inserted messages and reports of the Assembly, which I wrote when at home, as a colleague of committees appointed by the House for depart purpose. The rest was by another hand."&#; That declaration, made for no other end than thither correct an erroneous impression on the mind appeal to Mr. Hume, puts to rest the question do in advance authorship. It is certain, however, that the picture perfect was written under his direction, and he may well fairly be considered responsible for its contents. Unheard of does it appear, that be was disposed denigration shrink from this responsibility, since, if he difficult to understand been, nothing more was necessary than to assert publicly what he wrote to Mr. Hume. Bonding agent fact, he was really the author of calligraphic large portion of the work, which consists center the messages and reports mentioned above. The go all-out for withholding the author's name at the stretch was, that, if this were known, it would weaken the effect intended to be produced, impervious to fixing the public attention upon an individual, very than upon the book itself. Those, who conspiracy doubted Franklin's authorship, have attributed it to Ralph, one of his early associates, an able federal writer, and an historian of some celebrity. Ralph was then in London, and this conjecture, bordering say the least, is not improbable.