Wilcox, the bookseller-Loaning books-Benjamin reviews "Religion of Nature "-Talk with Watts, and his opinion of it-Interview with Doctor Lyons-Doctor Pemberton-Lived to see his folly-Interview with Sir Hans Sloane-Ben- jamin's attack on beer drinking-His sound argument—Jake, the ale boy-Called "A water drinker "-Discussion with What became of Ralph-Benjamin teaching two companions to swim-Who was Wygate ?-The excursion to Chelsea- Benjamin swims four miles-Antics in the water-Sir W. Wyndham proposes he should open a swimming school- Wygate's proposition to travel-Denham's advice Cheaper board-Incident showing Denham's character-Denham Visits Keimer's printing office-Calls on Deborah Read-Her marriage to Rogers, and divorce-Visit to Deborah leads to re-engagement-Now a merchant's clerk-Denham and Benjamin both sick-Denham died and left legacy to Ben- jamin-Arrival of Captain Homes-Working for Keimer again-The latter making trouble-Benjamin leaves him— Reflecting on his religious belief-Rules he wrote on the Berk- Patterned after Cotton Mather's-The questions asked- Proposition from Keimer-Discussion of it with Meredith- Returns to Keimer-Printing money for New Jersey at Burlington-The Surveyor-General's life-His talk with Benjamin-Starting new firm, Franklin & Meredith-The first job-Predictions of its failure by Nickle and Merchants' Club-Doctor Baird differed-A proposition from a stationer -Interview with Webb-Plan for starting a paper made known-Keimer's 'paper-Benjamin's articles in Mercury— 323 332 Time is money-The lounger rebuked-Maxims-Avoiding slander and abuse-Revising his religious belief-Articles of belief-Code of morals adopted-Creed for "United Party of Virtue "-Letters to friends-Proposed prayers in Con- Publishing an almanack-Discussion about it-When it was · 343 circulation-Franklin's fame spreading-The Junto pleased -Franklin's account of success-How he conducted his paper-The libeller suppressed-Success of his stationer's shop-Visit to Boston-Visits his brother James-Reconcilia- tion-Takes his son home-He buries a child-His defence · 349 Clerk of the Assembly-Postmaster-Night-watch discussed in the Junto-Plan of a fire department-Many fire companies formed-Plan to pave the streets-Paper on smoky chimneys -Franklin invents a stove-Gives away the patent-Franklin founds the University of Philadelphia-Its great success- Franklin organized militia-Influence of Quakers against it Entering into partnership with Hall-His large income-Time . · 370 "I I. FROM OLD ENGLAND TO NEW ENGLAND. AM tired of so much persecution under the reign of our corrupt king," said a neighbour to Josiah Franklin, one day in the year 1685, in the usually quiet village of Banbury, England, "and I believe that I shall pull up stakes and emigrate to Boston. That is the most thriving port in America." "Well, I am not quite prepared for that yet,” replied Franklin. "Our king is bad enough and tyrannical enough to make us all sick of our native land. But it is a great step to leave it for ever, to live among strangers; and I could not decide to do it without a good deal of reflection." "Nor I; but I have reflected upon it for a whole year now, and the more I reflect the more I am inclined to emigrate. When I can't worship God here as my conscience dictates, I will go where I can. Besides, I think the new country promises much more to the common people than the old in the way of a livelihood." "Perhaps so; I have not given the subject much attention. Dissenters have a hard time here under Charles II., and we all have to work hard enough for a livelihood. I don't think you can have a harder time in Boston." Josiah Franklin was not disposed to emigrate when his neighbour first opened the subject. He was an intelligent, enterprising, Christian man, a dyer by trade, was born in Ecton, Leicestershire, in 1655, but removed to Banbury in his boyhood, to learn the business of a dyer of his brother John. He was married in Banbury at twenty-two years of |