Benjamin Franklin : $b Representative selections, with introduction, bibliograpy, and notesFranklin, Benjamin
General
Benjamin Franklin : $b Representative selections, with introduction, bibliograpy, and notes
Franklin, Benjamin
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
You must or stay all
Night on the Water, says he, just as you please. The others said, Let us
row; what signifies it? But my Mind being soured with his other Conduct,
I continu'd to refuse. So he swore he would make me row, or throw me
overboard; and coming along stepping on the Thwarts towards me, when he
came up and struck at me I clapt my Hand under his Crutch, and rising
pitch'd him head-foremost into the River. I knew he was a good Swimmer,
and so was under little Concern about him; but before he could get
round to lay hold of the Boat, we had with a few Strokes pull'd her out
of his Reach. And ever when he drew near the Boat, we ask'd if he would
row, striking a few Strokes to slide her away from him.--He was ready to
die with Vexation, and obstinately would not promise to row; however
seeing him at last beginning to tire, we lifted him in; and brought him
home dripping wet in the Evening. We hardly exchang'd a civil Word
afterwards; and a West India Captain who had a Commission to procure a
Tutor for the Sons of a Gentleman at Barbadoes, happening to meet with
him, agreed to carry him thither. He left me then, promising to remit me
the first Money he should receive in order to discharge the Debt. But I
never heard of him after. The Breaking into this Money of Vernon's was
one of the first great Errata of my Life[.] And this Affair show'd that
my Father was not much out in his Judgment when he suppos'd me too Young
to manage Business of Importance. But Sir William, on reading his
Letter, said he was too prudent. There was great Difference in Persons,
and Discretion did not always accompany Years, nor was Youth always
without it. And since he will not set you up, says he, I will do it
myself. Give me an Inventory of the Things necessary to be had from
England, and I will send for them. You shall repay me when you are able;
I am resolv'd to have a good Printer here, and I am sure you must
succeed. This was spoken with such an 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 it 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.--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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