48事情就这样，过了一段时间，我对我的合伙人梅鲁迪斯说：“也许你父亲并不想你参加我们的这个生意，他可能不愿意为你和我垫钱，也可能他愿意为你出钱，但不愿意为我出。如果是这样的情况的话，那么告诉我，我会把整个生意给你，我去做我自己的生意”。梅鲁迪斯说：“不，事情不是这样的。我父亲确实很失望，但他是真的没有钱。我也不愿意为难他老人家。我知道这个生意不适合我做。我从小就是干农活的，我30岁的时候到城里来当学徒，简直就是对我的嘲弄。我们许多威尔士的人都去北卡罗莱那州定居了。那个地方地价便宜，我想和他们一起去那里，干我的老本行。你可以找你的朋友帮你一把，如果你能负责印刷所的债务，还我父亲原来垫付的100英镑，还掉我的那点私人债务，给我30镑和一副新的马鞍，我就退出我们的合伙，整个印刷所就是你的了。”我同意了他开出的条件，我们就起草了一份协议，然后签字。我把他所要求的东西都给了他。不久以后，他就去北卡罗莱那了。第二年，他寄了两封长信给我，其中一封是有关那地方的最好叙述。信里提到了当地的气候、土壤、农业等，他对这些很熟悉。我把他的信在报纸上发表了，公众对之很满意。
49他一走，我就去找那两位朋友。我不想显出对谁有偏爱，所以从他们给的钱中各取了一半，还清了债务，公开对外宣布结束合伙，开始由我独立经营。我想这大概是1729年的事情。
50大概也就是这个时候，人们要求发行更多的纸币，因为当时州里只有1.5万镑的纸币，而且还在不断减少。富人反对纸币的任何增加，因为他们担心那样的话会像新英格兰那样，纸币增加而导致纸币的贬值。我们在我们的“讲读俱乐部”讨论了这一观点。我站在增加纸币的那边，因为1723年第一次发行了数额不大的纸币以后，促进了商业的繁荣，增加了就业机会，州里的居民人数也增加了。我看到所有的老房子都住了人，许多新的房子也在建造之中，我很清楚地记得，当我第一次走在费城大街上的时候，我啃着我的松卷，看到胡桃街，第二大街，前大街的房子上都贴着招租的条子，我那个时候就想，这个城市的居民在不断地逃离这个地方。
51我们之间的争论使我全身心地投入到这个问题上去，我还写了一篇匿名的小册子，名字就叫《试论纸币的性质和必要性》。它在普通老百姓那里得到了很好的反响，但是富人们不喜欢它，因为它增强了增加纸币的呼声，他们之中恰好又没有人写文章来反驳它，所以反对增加纸币的意见的声音就小下去了。我的观点得到了议会多数的赞同。我在议会中的朋友们觉得把印刷纸币的业务交给我是我应得的奖赏，那是个非常有利润的生意，对我帮助很大。这是我写作带来的又一个好处。
52增加纸币的效用随着时间的过去是如此的明显，以后就再也没有争辩了。纸币的数量很快增加到了5.5万镑，1739年则增加到了8万镑，在战争时期则达到了35万镑。商业、建筑、居民人数都在增长。虽然我现在想，发行纸币也有个限度，超过这个限度也可能是有害的。
53不久，我通过朋友汉密尔顿的帮助拿到了印刷纽卡斯尔纸币的业务，在我看来，那又是一笔利润丰厚的生意。对于做小本生意的人来说，一些小事情也显得很重大。这些生意使我大受鼓舞，也确实利润不少。他还帮我得到了印刷那个州的法律文件和选票的业务，这项业务一直持续到我从事印刷业的所有时间。
54我现在开了一家小小的文具店。店里有各种各样的发票，在当时，是式样最齐全的。能够做到这个样子，多亏了朋友布赖恩特纳尔的帮助。怀特马施是我在伦敦的时候认识的排字工，一个非常优秀的工人，他这个时候来到了我这里，和我一起工作，人很勤奋。我还收了一个学徒，就是阿奎那·罗斯的儿子。
55我现在开始逐步偿还印刷所的债务。为了商人的信誉和品行，我小心谨慎，勤俭节约，避免一切与之相反的东西。我穿着朴素，我从不在无益的娱乐场所出现，也不出去钓鱼或者打猎。确实，有的时候，因为读书使我耽误了工作，但那是极少数情况下的事，而且是秘密的，没有闲话。为了显示我并不是高高在上，我有的时候就推着一辆小车把买来的报纸运回家。这样大家认为我是一个勤劳上进、又守信用的年轻人。我从不拖欠，所有文具批发商都拉我做他们的生意，其他商家也主动要求我替他们代销书籍。我可真是一帆风顺。同时，凯默的信用和生意却每况愈下，最终被迫把他的印刷所卖了来还债。他去了巴巴多斯，在那里住了些个年头，穷困潦倒。
56凯默有个学徒，他的名字是大卫·哈里，我在那里工作的时候指导过他。他买下了凯默的机器设备，在费城开起了印刷厂。我开始担心他会成为我强有力的竞争对手，因为他的朋友能干又有势力。因此，我提议和他合伙，幸运的是他轻蔑地拒绝了我。他这个人很狂傲，穿的像个绅士，生活奢侈，经常在外面寻欢作乐，债务缠身，疏于管理他的生意，因此也没有业务可做，最后他带上他的机器，也和凯默一样去了巴巴多斯。在巴巴多斯，他雇佣了他原来的老板做工人。他们经常吵架。哈里仍然不断地负债，最后被迫把机器变卖了，返回宾西法尼亚种田去了。那个买下哈里机器的人继续雇佣凯默操作这些机器，几年以后他就去世了。
57现在，费城除了一个老对手布雷福德就没有人和我竞争了。布雷福德现在生活富裕舒适，他只是雇些零工偶尔干些散活，对生意不是很担心。但是，由于他负责管理邮局，人们认为他有更多的机会得到新闻，他的报纸在投放渠道上也比我有优势，他的广告业务也比我多，这对他很有利却对我不利。事实上，我也通过他的邮局收发报纸，但是大家并不知道，我们是私下里秘密进行的，我是通过贿赂邮局的骑师来进行的。布雷福德知道了就会毫不留情地禁止，这种行为使我大为恼怒，也因此有点鄙视他。因此，当日后我处在他的位置时我从不学他那样。
part 3
1my lodging in little britain being too remote, i found another in duke-street, opposite to the romish chapel. it was two pair of stairs backwards, at an italian warehouse. a widow lady kept the house; she had a daughter, and a maid servant, and a journeyman who attended the warehouse, but lodg'd abroad. after sending to inquire my character at the house where i last lodg'd she agreed to take me in at the same rate, 3s. 6d. per week; cheaper, as she said, from the protection she expected in having a man lodge in the house. she was a widow, an elderly woman; had been bred a protestant, being a clergyman's daughter, but was converted to the catholic religion by her husband, whose memory she much revered; had lived much among people of distinction, and knew a thousand anecdotes of them as far back as the times of charles the second. she was lame in her knees with the gout, and, therefore, seldom stirred out of her room, so sometimes wanted company; and hers was so highly amusing to me, that i was sure to spend an evening with her whenever she desired it. our supper was only half an anchovy each, on a very little strip of bread and butter, and half a pint of ale between us; but the entertainment was in her conversation. my always keeping good hours, and giving little trouble in the family, made her unwilling to part with me; so that, when i talk'd of a lodging i had heard of, nearer my business, for two shillings a week, which, intent as i now was on saving money, made some difference, she bid me not think of it, for she would abate me two shillings a week for the future; so i remained with her at one shilling and sixpence as long as i staid in london.
2in a garret of her house there lived a maiden lady of seventy, in the most retired manner, of whom my landlady gave me this account: that she was a roman catholic, had been sent abroad when young, and lodg'd in a nunnery with an intent of becoming a nun; but, the country not agreeing with her, she returned to england, where, there being no nunnery, she had vow'd to lead the life of a nun, as near as might be done in those circumstances. accordingly, she had given all her estate to charitable uses, reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on, and out of this sum she still gave a great deal in charity, living herself on water-gruel only, and using no fire but to boil it. she had lived many years in that garret, being permitted to remain there gratis by successive catholic tenants of the house below, as they deemed it a blessing to have her there. a priest visited her to confess her every day. \"i have ask'd her,\" says my landlady, \"how she, as she liv'd, could possibly find so much employment for a confessor?\" \"oh,\" said she, \"it is impossible to avoid vain thoughts.\" i was permitted once to visit her, she was chearful and polite, and convers'd pleasantly. the room was clean, but had no other furniture than a matras, a table with a crucifix and book, a stool which she gave me to sit on, and a picture over the chimney of saint veronica displaying her handkerchief, with the miraculous figure of christ's bleeding face on it, which she explained to me with great seriousness. she look'd pale, but was never sick; and i give it as another instance on how small an income life and health may be supported.
3at watts's printing-house i contracted an acquaintance with an ingenious young man, one wygate, who, having wealthy relations, had been better educated than most printers; was a tolerable latinist, spoke french, and lov'd reading. i taught him and a friend of his to swim at twice going into the river, and they soon became good swimmers. they introduc'd me to some gentlemen from the country, who went to chelsea by water to see the college and don saltero's curiosities. in our return, at the request of the company, whose curiosity wygate had excited, i stripped and leaped into the river, and swam from near chelsea to blackfryar's, performing on the way many feats of activity, both upon and under water, that surpris'd and pleas'd those to whom they were novelties.
4i had from a child been ever delighted with this exercise, had studied and practis'd all thevenot's motions and positions, added some of my own, aiming at the graceful and easy as well as the useful. all these i took this occasion of exhibiting to the company, and was much flatter'd by their admiration; and wygate, who was desirous of becoming a master, grew more and more attach'd to me on that account, as well as from the similarity of our studies. he at length proposed to me travelling all over europe together, supporting ourselves everywhere by working at our business. i was once inclined to it; but, mentioning it to my good friend mr. denham, with whom i often spent an hour when i had leisure, he dissuaded me from it, advising me to think only of returning to pennsilvania, which he was now about to do.
5i must record one trait of this good man's character. he had formerly been in business at bristol, but failed in debt to a number of people, compounded and went to america. there, by a close application to business as a merchant, he acquir'd a plentiful fortune in a few years. returning to england in the ship with me, he invited his old creditors to an entertainment, at which he thank'd them for the easy composition they had favored him with, and, when they expected nothing but the treat, every man at the first remove found under his plate an order on a banker for the full amount of the unpaid remainder with interest.
6he now told me he was about to return to philadelphia, and should carry over a great quantity of goods in order to open a store there. he propos'd to take me over as his clerk, to keep his books, in which he would instruct me, copy his letters, and attend the store. he added that, as soon as i should be acquainted with mercantile business, he would promote me by sending me with a cargo of flour and bread, etc., to the west indies, and procure me commissions from others which would be profitable; and, if i manag'd well, would establish me handsomely. the thing pleas'd me; for i was grown tired of london, remembered with pleasure the happy months i had spent in pennsylvania, and wish'd again to see it; therefore i immediately agreed on the terms of fifty pounds a year, pennsylvania money; less, indeed, than my present gettings as a compositor, but affording a better prospect.
7i now took leave of printing, as i thought, for ever, and was daily employed in my new business, going about with mr. denham among the tradesmen to purchase various articles, and seeing them pack'd up, doing errands, calling upon workmen to dispatch, etc.; and, when all was on board, i had a few days' leisure. on one of these days, i was, to my surprise, sent for by a great man i knew only by 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.
8thus 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.
9we 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 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.
10we 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 happy, and soon parted from him, refusing to cohabit with him or bear his name, it being now said that he bad another wife. he was a worthless fellow, tho' an excellent workman, which was the temptation to her friends. he got into debt, ran away in 1727 or 1728, went to the west indies, and died there. keimer had got a better house, a shop well supply'd with stationery, plenty of new types, a number of hands, tho' none good, and seem'd to have a great deal of business.
11mr. denham took a store in water-street, where we open'd our goods; i attended the business diligently, studied accounts, and grew, in a little time, expert at selling. we lodg'd and, boarded together; he counsell'd me as a father, having a sincere regard for me. i respected and lov'd him, and we might have gone on together very happy; but, in the beginning of february, 1726-7, when i had just pass'd my twenty-first year, we both were taken ill. my distemper was a pleurisy, which very nearly carried me off. i suffered a good deal, gave up the point in my own mind, and was rather disappointed when i found myself recovering, regretting, in some degree, that i must now, some time or other, have all that disagreeable work to do over again. i forget what his distemper was; it held him a long time, and at length carried him off. he left me a small legacy in a nuncupative will, as a token of his kindness for me, and he left me once more to the wide world; for the store was taken into the care of his executors, and my employment under him ended.
12my brother-in-law, holmes, being now at philadelphia, advised my return to my business; and keimer tempted me, with an offer of large wages by the year, to come and take the management of his printing-house, that he might better attend his stationer's shop. i had heard a bad character of him in london from his wife and her friends, and was not fond of having any more to do with him. i tri'd for farther employment as a merchant's clerk; but, not readily meeting with any, i clos'd again with keimer. i found in his house these hands: hugh meredith, a welsh pensilvanian, thirty years of age, bred to country work; honest, sensible, had a great deal of solid observation, was something of a reader, but given to drink. stephen potts, a young countryman of full age, bred to the same, of uncommon natural parts, and great wit and humor, but a little idle. these he had agreed with at extream low wages per week, to be rais'd a shilling every three months, as they would deserve by improving in their business; and the expectation of these high wages, to come on hereafter, was what he had drawn them in with. meredith was to work at press, potts at book-binding, which he, by agreement, was to teach them, though he knew neither one nor t'other. john, a wild irishman, brought up to no business, whose service, for four years, keimer had purchased from the captain of a ship; he, too, was to be made a pressman. george webb, an oxford scholar, whose time for four years he had likewise bought, intending him for a compositor, of whom more presently; and david harry, a country boy, whom he had taken apprentice.
13i soon perceiv'd that the intention of engaging me at wages so much higher than he had been us'd to give, was, to have these raw, cheap hands form'd thro' me; and, as soon as i had instructed them, then they being all articled to him, he should be able to do without me. i went on, however, very cheerfully, put his printing-house in order, which had been in great confusion, and brought his hands by degrees to mind their business and to do it better.