These embarrassments that the Quakers suffer’d from having establish’d and published it as one of their principles that no kind of war was lawful, and which, being once published, they could not afterwards, however they might change their minds, easily get rid of, reminds me of what I think a more prudent conduct in another sect among us, that of the Dunkers. I was acquainted with one of its founders, Michael Welfare, soon after it appear’d. He complain’d to me that they were grievously calumniated by the zealots of other persuasions, and charg’d with abominable principles and practices, to which they were utter strangers. I told him this had always been the case with new sects, and that, to put a stop to such abuse, I imagin’d it might be well to publish the articles of their belief, and the rules of their discipline. He said that it had been propos’d among them, but not agreed to, for this reason: “When we were first drawn together as a society,” says he, “it had pleased God to enlighten our minds so far as to see that some doctrines, which we once esteemed truths, were errors; and that others, which we had esteemed errors, were real truths. From time to time He has been pleased to afford us farther light, and our principles have been improving, and our errors diminishing. Now we are not sure that we are arrived at the end of this progression, and at the perfection of spiritual or theological knowledge; and we fear that, if we should once print our confession of faith, we should feel ourselves as if bound and confin’d by it, and perhaps be unwilling to receive farther improvement, and our successors still more so, as conceiving what we their elders and founders had done, to be something sacred, never to be departed from.”
教友会把反对任何战争作为他们的原则之一肯定下来并宣扬出去之后，尽管他们以后改变了主张，由于这些原则已经公开宣布了，所以不可能很容易地把它们推翻。因此而引起的进退两难的情形使我想起我们中间有一个教派叫做德国浸礼会，他们采取了一种在我看来是比较慎重的态度。在这个教派成立以后不久，我认识了它的创办人之一迈克尔·魏尔菲。他向我诉苦说，其他教派的狂热信徒无端地诬告他们，说他们有一些令人憎恶的信条和习惯，其实这完全是无中生有。我告诉他说，这对新成立的教派是常有的事，为了消灭这些无耻谰言，我以为最好是把他们的信条和教规公布一下。他说：这话他们中间也曾经有人提过，但是为了下面这个缘故大家不同意。他说：“当我们这一教派刚成立时，蒙上帝的启示，使我们看到某些我们过去认为是真理的教条实在是谬误的，而有些我们过去认为是错误的却实在是真理，上帝不时在指引着我们，我们的原则在不断地改进，我们的错误在不断地减少。但是我们不敢断定我们的进步已经登峰造极，我们心灵的或神学的知识已经尽善尽美。我们怕假如一旦我们把我们的信条公布的话，我们会觉得受它的约束和限制，可能会使我们不愿意再加以改进，而我们的子孙将会更加如此，因为他们认为他们的长辈和创立人的遗训是神圣不可侵犯的，是应当信守不渝的。”
This modesty in a sect is perhaps a singular instance in the history of mankind, every other sect supposing itself in possession of all truth, and that those who differ are so far in the wrong; like a man traveling in foggy weather, those at some distance before him on the road he sees wrapped up in the fog, as well as those behind him, and also the people in the fields on each side, but near him all appears clear, tho’ in truth he is as much in the fog as any of them. To avoid this kind of embarrassment, the Quakers have of late years been gradually declining the public service in the Assembly and in the magistracy, choosing rather to quit their power than their principle.
一个教派这样谦逊恐怕是人类历史上绝无仅有的吧！其他教派总是以为自己获得了全部真理，认为持有不同见解的人是完全错误的。像一个人在大雾弥漫的时候行路，在他前面远处的人他看去好像完全沉浸在大雾中，在他后面和在两边田野里的人也是如此，但在他近旁的一切好像很清晰，实际上他跟其他人一样都在大雾中。为了避免这种进退维谷的窘境，近年以来越来越多的教友会教友辞去了州议会和政府中的职位，宁可放弃他们的权力，而不愿在原则上妥协。
In order of time, I should have mentioned before, that having, in 1742, invented an open stove for the better warming of rooms, and at the same time saving fuel, as the fresh air admitted was warmed in entering, I made a present of the model to Mr. Robert Grace, one of my early friends, who, having an iron-furnace, found the casting of the plates for these stoves a profitable thing, as they were growing in demand. To promote that demand, I wrote and published a pamphlet, entitled “An Account of the new-invented Pennsylvania Fireplaces; wherein their Construction and Manner of Operation is particularly explained; their Advantages above every other Method of warming Rooms demonstrated; and all Objections that have been raised against the Use of them answered and obviated,” etc. This pamphlet had a good effect. Gov’r. Thomas was so pleas’d with the construction of this stove, as described in it, that he offered to give me a patent for the sole vending of them for a term of years; but I declin’d it from a principle which has ever weighed with me on such occasions, viz., That, as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously.
照时间的先后来讲，我老早就应当提起下面这件事了。在一七四二年我发明了一种“开炉”，这种火炉能够更好地使房间变暖，同时能节省燃料，因为冷空气在进炉时就烘热了。以后我就制造了一个模型送给我的一个老朋友劳勃脱·葛莱丝。他开设一家翻砂厂，他发现制造这种火炉的铁板获利很厚，因为买这种火炉的人越来越多了。为了推广销路，我编写和发表了一本小册子，定名为《新发明宾夕法尼亚火炉说明书：本文特别说明它的构造和使用方法，证明它较其他取暖方法的优点，驳斥一切反对使用这种火炉的议论》。这本小册子发行后效果良好，汤麦斯州长非常喜欢书中所介绍的这种火炉的结构，他甚至提议在若干年内给我专卖权，但是我不想取得专利权，因为在这个问题上我心里一向有着这样一个原则：既然别人的发明给了我们巨大的便利，我们也应该乐于让别人利用我们的发明，并且我们应当无偿地慷慨地把我们的发明贡献给他人。
Peace being concluded, and the association business therefore at an end, I turn’d my thoughts again to the affair of establishing an academy. The first step I took was to associate in the design a number of active friends, of whom the Junto furnished a good part; the next was to write and publish a pamphlet, entitled Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania. This I distributed among the principal inhabitants gratis; and as soon as I could suppose their minds a little prepared by the perusal of it, I set on foot a subscription for opening and supporting an academy; it was to be paid in quotas yearly for five years; by so dividing it, I judg’d the subscription might be larger, and I believe it was so, amounting to no less, if I remember right, than five thousand pounds.
战争结束了，因此团练的工作也完了，我的思想又一次转到开办学院这件事上去了。我第一步是邀请我朋友中的一些积极分子参加这个计划，其中有相当数量是密社的社员；第二步是编写和发表一本小册子，叫做《有关宾夕法尼亚青年教育的建议》。我把它们免费赠送给居民中有地位的人，过了一些时候我认为他们已经读过这本小册子，因而在思想上有了一些准备时，我就为开办和维持这所学院开始募捐。捐款在五年内分五次缴纳。这种分期缴款办法，我认为可以使得认捐数大一些。事实上我相信也是如此，假如我没有记错的话，认捐总数不下五千镑。
An ironmonger in London however, assuming a good deal of my pamphlet, and working it up into his own, and making some small changes in the machine, which rather hurt its operation, got a patent for it there, and made, as I was told, a little fortune by it. And this is not the only instance of patents taken out for my inventions by thers, tho’ not always with the same success, which I never contested, as having no desire of profiting by patents myself, and hating disputes. The use of these fireplaces in very many houses, both of this and the neighbouring colonies, has been, and is, a great saving of wood to the inhabitants.
但是，伦敦的一个铁器商人从我的小册子里窃取了许多东西，把它改装成他自己的东西，做了一些小的更动，这些变动只是减低了火炉的效力，就在伦敦取得专利，据说，他倒因此而发了一笔小小的横财哩。别人从我的发明中僭窃我的专利权不限于这一个例子，虽然有时候他们也不一定同样地获得成功，但是我从不跟他们争讼，因为我自己无意利用专卖权来获利，同时我也不喜欢争吵。这种火炉广泛推行，不管是在宾州或在附近的殖民地里，给居民节约了大量的柴火。
The subscribers, to carry the project into immediate execution, chose out of their number twenty-four trustees, and appointed Mr. Francis, then attorney-general, and myself to draw up constitutions for the government of the academy; which being done and signed, a house was hired, masters engag’d, and the schools opened, I think, in the same year, 1749.
为了尽快地实现这个计划，捐款人从他们自己中间推选了二十一个理事，并且指定我和当时的首席检察官法兰西斯先生替这个学院起草一个组织规程。这个规程拟订好了，校舍租好了，教师请好了，而学校我记得就在那一年（一七四九）开学了。
In the introduction to these proposals, I stated their publication, not as an act of mine, but of some publick-spirited gentlemen, avoiding as much as I could, according to my usual rule, the presenting myself to the publick as the author of any scheme for their benefit.
在这些计划的序文中，我不把它们当作是我的计划，而是把它们归功于一些爱国绅士。按照我的惯例，尽可能地避免把我自己当作公益事业的发起人公布出去。
The scholars increasing fast, the house was soon found too small, and we were looking out for a piece of ground, properly situated, with intention to build, when Providence threw into our way a large house ready built, which, with a few alterations, might well serve our purpose. This was the building before mentioned, erected by the hearers of Mr. Whitefield, and was obtained for us in the following manner.
学员的人数不断地增加，原来的校舍很快就不够用了，当时我们正在物色一块地位适中的地皮，打算修建校舍，但是这时上帝忽然赐给我们一所现成的大厦，只要稍加更改，就很可以适用。这就是上面提到过的胡飞特先生的听众们出资修建起来的大会堂。我们是这样获得这所大厦的。
It is to be noted that the contributions to this building being made by people of different sects, care was taken in the nomination of trustees, in whom the building and ground was to be vested, that a predominancy should not be given to any sect, lest in time that predominancy might be a means of appropriating the whole to the use of such sect, contrary to the original intention. It was therefore that one of each sect was appointed, viz., one Church-of-England man, one Presbyterian, one Baptist, one Moravian, etc., those, in case of vacancy by death, were to fill it by election from among the contributors. The Moravian happen’d not to please his colleagues, and on his death they resolved to have no other of that sect. The difficulty then was, how to avoid having two of some other sect, by means of the new choice.
我们记得这所大会堂是由许多不同教派的人出资修建起来的，所以在推选保管该项房地产的理事时，他们不许任何教派占有优势，免得以后有人利用这种优势，违反修建这所会堂的原意，把整所房屋拨给某一教派独用。因此他们从每一教派中推选一人为理事，就是说，圣公会一人，长老会一人，浸礼会一人，弟兄派一人，等等。如果因死亡而有空额时，由理事会就捐款人中推选一人填补之。碰巧这位弟兄派理事与其他理事不和，在他死后理事会决定不再选弟兄派的人做理事了。但是问题是在选举新理事时怎样才能避免一个教派有两个理事。
Several persons were named, and for that reason not agreed to. At length one mention’d me, with the observation that I was merely an honest man, and of no sect at all, which prevail’d with them to chuse me. The enthusiasm which existed when the house was built had long since abated, and its trustees had not been able to procure fresh contributions for paying the ground-rent, and discharging some other debts the building had occasion’d, which embarrass’d them greatly. Being now a member of both setts of trustees, that for the building and that for the Academy, I had a good opportunity of negotiating with both, and brought them finally to an agreement, by which the trustees for the building were to cede it to those of the academy, the latter undertaking to discharge the debt, to keep for ever open in the building a large hall for occasional preachers, according to the original intention, and maintain a free- school for the instruction of poor children. Writings were accordingly drawn, and on paying the debts the trustees of the academy were put in possession of the premises; and by dividing the great and lofty hall into stories, and different rooms above and below for the several schools, and purchasing some additional ground, the whole was soon made fit for our purpose, and the scholars remov’d into the building. The care and trouble of agreeing with the workmen, purchasing materials, and superintending the work, fell upon me; and I went thro’ it the more cheerfully, as it did not then interfere with my private business, having the year before taken a very able, industrious, and honest partner, Mr. David Hall, with whose character I was well acquainted, as he had work’d for me four years. He took off my hands all care of the printing-office, paying me punctually my share of the profits. This partnership continued eighteen years, successfully for us both.
理事们提出了几个候选人的名字，但是为了上述的理由未能通过，终于有一个理事提出我的名字，他说我仅仅是一个诚实人，不属于任何教派，这一下可说服了其他理事，使他们推选了我。当年修建会堂时的那股热情老早就烟消云散了，理事会无法觅得新的捐款来付偿地租和其他与会堂有关的债务，因此感到十分为难。现在我是两个理事会的理事了，是会堂的理事，也是学院的理事，因此我有一个很好的机会跟两方面商谈，最后使双方达成了一项协议。按照这项协议，会堂理事会把会堂让渡给学院理事会，后者承担付偿债务的责任，应允遵照修建该堂的原意永远在会堂里划出一大间听任传教士们的不时之需，并开办一所免费教育清寒子弟的学校。于是双方订了合同，学院理事会付清了债以后，就接管了房产。我们把这高大的会堂分成两层，每层又隔成若干房间作为讲堂。我们另外又买了一些地，整个场所不久就符合我们的需要了。学员们就搬进了这所大楼。所有跟工人订合同、采购物资和监督工程等工作都落在我的肩上，但是我倒还是很乐意地担任这些工作的，特别是因为它们并不妨害我自己的业务，因为一年前我已经跟一个十分能干、勤勉和诚实的伙友大卫·荷尔先生合了伙。他以前替我做了四年工，所以我很了解他的性格。他负担了管理印刷铺的一切工作，使我得以脱身，他按时付给我应得的红利。这一合伙维持了十八年之久，对双方都大有裨益。
The trustees of the academy, after a while, were incorporated by a charter from the governor; their funds were increas’d by contributions in Britain and grants of land from the proprietaries, to which the Assembly has since made considerable addition; and thus was established the present University of Philadelphia. I have been continued one of its trustees from the beginning, now near forty years, and have had the very great pleasure of seeing a number of the youth who have receiv’d their education in it, distinguish’d by their improv’d abilities, serviceable in public stations and ornaments to their country.
过了一些时候，学院理事会向州长领得了一张执照，组成了一个社团，从英国寄来了捐款，地主们也捐献了土地，所以理事会的基金增加了，州议会迄今为止也捐了不少。现今的费列得尔费亚大学就这样成立了。我从开始一直是理事之一，迄今快四十年了。我看到许多青年在大学里受了教育后，因他们的卓越才能著称于世，在社会上成了有用之材，为国增光，我感到莫大的快慰。
When I disengaged myself, as above mentioned, from private business, I flatter’d myself that, by the sufficient tho’ moderate fortune I had acquir’d, I had secured leisure during the rest of my life for philosophical studies and amusements. I purchased all Dr. Spence’s apparatus, who had come from England to lecture here, and I proceeded in my electrical experiments with great alacrity; but the publick, now considering me as a man of leisure, laid hold of me for their purposes, every part of our civil government, and almost at the same time, imposing some duty upon me. The governor put me into the commission of the peace; the corporation of the city chose me of the common council, and soon after an alderman; and the citizens at large chose me a burgess to represent them in Assembly. This latter station was the more agreeable to me, as I was at length tired with sitting there to hear debates, in which, as clerk, I could take no part, and which were often so unentertaining that I was induc’d to amuse myself with making magic squares or circles, or any thing to avoid weariness; and I conceiv’d my becoming a member would enlarge my power of doing good. I would not, however, insinuate that my ambition was not flatter’d by all these promotions; it certainly was; for, considering my low beginning, they were great things to me; and they were still more pleasing, as being so many spontaneous testimonies of the public good opinion, and by me entirely unsolicited.
如上所述，我摆脱了私人的业务经营，当时我自以为我已经获得一笔足够的财产，虽然数目很有限，但是已经能够使我在未来的一生中获得空闲时间从事哲理的探讨，欢度晚年。我购买了斯宾斯博士的全部仪器，他是从英国到美洲来讲学的。我很快地着手做电学试验。但是现在社会上以为我是一个有闲阶级了，就抓住我来为他们服务，我们政府的各部门几乎同时地要我效劳。州长任命我为治安推事；市政府选我做市议会议员，不久以后又选我为市参议员；全体人民又选我为州议员，在州议会中代表他们。后面的那个职位特别使我乐意，因为我对于枯坐一旁听别人辩论，终于感到厌倦了。作为州议会的秘书，我不能参加辩论，而这些辩论又是如此枯燥无味，我不得不在纸上画画数字方阵表、圆圈或是任何东西以自娱解闷。同时我认为当了州议员，我可以做出更大的贡献。我绝不是说我对这一切荣誉无动于衷，我当然感到很光荣，因为考虑到我出身的低微，这些地位对我是十分了不起的，使我特别感到高兴的是这些职位代表着社会舆论对我的一种自发的称赞，完全不是我自己钻营得来的光荣。
The year following, a treaty being to be held with the Indians at Carlisle, the governor sent a message to the House, proposing that they should nominate some of their members, to be join’d with some members of council, as commissioners for that purpose. The House named the speaker (Mr. Norris) and myself; and, being commission’d, we went to Carlisle, and met the Indians accordingly.
第二年，我们要与印第安人在卡来儿谈判了，州长送了个咨文给州议会，建议州议会从议员中指定几位议员，和参事会中的一部分参事共同组成一个谈判委员会。州议会指定了我和州议会议长（诺利斯先生），我们就奉命到卡来儿去，因此会见了印第安人。
As those people are extreamly apt to get drunk, and, when so, are very quarrelsome and disorderly, we strictly forbad the selling any liquor to them; and when they complain’d of this restriction, we told them that if they would continue sober during the treaty, we would give them plenty of rum when business was over. They promis’d this, and they kept their promise, because they could get no liquor, and the treaty was conducted very orderly, and concluded to mutual satisfaction. They then claim’d and receiv’d the rum; this was in the afternoon; they were near one hundred men, women, and children, and were lodg’d in temporary cabins, built in the form of a square, just without the town. In the evening, hearing a great noise among them, the commissioners walk’d out to see what was the matter. We found they had made a great bonfire in the middle of the square; they were all drunk, men and women, quarreling and fighting. Their darkcolour’d bodies, half naked, seen only by the gloomy light of the bonfire, running after and beating one another with firebrands, accompanied by their horrid yellings, form’d a scene the most resembling our ideas of hell that could well be imagin’d; there was no appeasing the tumult, and we retired to our lodging. At midnight a number of them came thundering at our door, demanding more rum, of which we took no notice.
因为印第安人十分好酒，当喝醉了酒时，他们就变得十分爱吵闹，无法无天，不守秩序，所以我们严格地禁止把任何酒类卖给他们。当他们为了禁酒而抱怨的时候，我们对他们说，如果他们在谈判期间不喝酒，在谈判结束后我们愿意给他们大量甜酒。他们答应了，他们也守了约，因为他们买不到酒。谈判进行得很安静，结果也使得双方满意。谈判结束后，他们要甜酒，我们就给了他们。这是在下午。他们男的女的和小孩一共约有一百人，住在城外临时性的木屋里，木屋排成一个四方形。在傍晚的时候，我们听到他们中间人声嘈杂，委员们就跑到城外去看个究竟。我们看见在四方形的中央是一个大篝火，他们男男女女全喝得酩酊大醉，互相争吵着殴打着。在陰暗的篝火的火光之下隐约地看出他们半裸体的淡黑色的身躯，互相追逐着，拿着火把互相殴打着，口中发出可怕的喊叫声。这种情景极似我们想象中的地狱。喧嚣经久不息，我们就回到我们的寓所去了。在午夜的时候，几个印第安人跑来打雷一样地敲我们寓所的门，要求更多的甜酒，我们没有理睬他们。
The office of justice of the peace I try’d a little, by attending a few courts, and sitting on the bench to hear causes; but finding that more knowledge of the common law than I possess’d was necessary to act in that station with credit, I gradually withdrew from it, excusing myself by my being oblig’d to attend the higher duties of a legislator in the Assembly. My election to this trust was repeated every year for ten years, without my ever asking any elector for his vote, or signifying, either directly or indirectly, any desire of being chosen. On taking my seat in the House, my son was appointed their clerk.
治安推事的职务我稍稍做了一点。我出了几次庭，我也开庭听人诉讼，但是我发现要做好治安推事的工作，像我这样一点对于习惯法的肤浅知识是不够的，因此我逐渐地避开这一职务，我的借口是我不得不在州议会中履行议员的更重要的任务；我每年当选州议员，连续达十年之久，我从不曾请求任何选举人投我的票，也从不直接或间接地表达我要求当选的愿望。我当州议员时，我的儿子当了州议会的秘书。
The next day, sensible they had misbehav’d in giving us that disturbance, they sent three of their old counselors to make their apology. The orator acknowledg’d the fault, but laid it upon the rum; and then endeavored to excuse the rum by saying, “The Great Spirit, who made all things, made every thing for some use, and whatever use he design’d any thing for, that use it should always be put to. Now, when he made rum, he said ‘Let this be for the Indians to get drunk with,’ and it must be so.”
第二天，他们发觉他们错了，他们不该打搅我们，所以派了他们的三个酋长来道歉。发言人承认了错误，但是把错误推到甜酒身上，接着他就设法宽宥甜酒，他说：“创造万物的大神使得物各有其用，既然神指定某种东西有某一用途，不管这用途是什么，那东西就应当按着这用途来使用。当神创造甜酒时，神说：‘这酒是给印第安人喝醉用的’，所以我们必须执行神的旨意。”
And, indeed, if it be the design of Providence to extirpate these savages in order to make room for cultivators of the earth, it seems not improbable that rum may be the appointed means. It has already annihilated all the tribes who formerly inhabited the sea-coast.
是呀！假如上帝的旨意是要消灭这些生番，给垦殖者让出地方，那么看来很可能甜酒就是老天注定的手段和方法了。它已经消灭了所有以前居住在沿海一带的部落了。
In 1751, Dr. Thomas Bond, a particular friend of mine, conceived the idea of establishing a hospital in Philadelphia (a very beneficent design, which has been ascrib’d to me, but was originally his), for the reception and cure of poor sick persons, whether inhabitants of the province or strangers. He was zealous and active in endeavouring to procure subscriptions for it, but the proposal being a novelty in America, and at first not well understood, he met with but small success.
在一七五一年，我的一个好友汤麦斯·庞德医生想要在费城开办一所医院（一个用意十分良好的计划，有人说这计划是我的，但是最初是他的主张），以便收容和治疗穷苦无依的病人，不问是否本州居民或是外地人。他热诚而又积极地为这个计划募捐，但是因为这个建议在美洲尚属创举，起初人们还不很了解它，他的努力收效不大。
The subscriptions afterwards were more free and generous; but, beginning to flag, I saw they would be insufficient without some assistance from the Assembly, and therefore propos’d to petition for it, which was done. The country members did not at first relish the project; they objected that it could only be serviceable to the city, and therefore the citizens alone should be at the expense of it; and they doubted whether the citizens themselves generally approv’d of it. My allegation on the contrary, that it met with such approbation as to leave no doubt of our being able to raise two thousand pounds by voluntary donations, they considered as a most extravagant supposition, and utterly impossible.
以后人们的捐款就比前踊跃了。但是不久捐款就越来越少了，我知道州议会若不加以援助，光靠捐款是不够的。因此我主张申请州议会津贴，接着我们就这样做了。代表乡村的议员们起初并不喜欢这个计划，他们表示异议说，这个医院只对城里人有益，因此应当完全由城里的市民出资来开办。同时他们也怀疑究竟多数市民自己是否赞成这个计划。和他们的意见正相反，我认为它受到市民普遍的欢迎，毫无疑问我们能够募得两千镑的捐款。他们认为我的想法是一种过高的奢望，是完全不能兑现的。
At length he came to me with the compliment that he found there was no such thing as carrying a public-spirited project through without my being concern’d in it. “For,” says he, “I am often ask’d by those to whom I propose subscribing, Have you consulted Franklin upon this business? And what does he think of it? And when I tell them that I have not (supposing it rather out of your line), they do not subscribe, but say they will consider of it.” I enquired into the nature and probable utility of his scheme, and receiving from him a very satisfactory explanation, I not only subscrib’d to it myself, but engag’d heartily in the design of procuring subscriptions from others. Previously, however, to the solicitation, I endeavoured to prepare the minds of the people by writing on the subject in the newspapers, which was my usual custom in such cases, but which he had omitted.
最后他到我这儿来，恭维我说，他发现要实现一个公益事业的计划，没有我参加就不行。他说：“因为我去向人募捐，人们常常问我：‘这件事你跟富兰克林商谈过没有？富兰克林怎么说？’当我告诉他们我还没有跟你谈过（因为我以为这件事多少有点非你所长），他们就拒绝捐款，只说他们将考虑这个计划。”我问了他这个计划的性质和可能的用途，他的解答使我感到非常满意。我不但自己捐了钱，而且热诚地计划向别人募捐。但是在向人募捐之前，我设法在报上发表了有关这一计划的文章，以便准备人们的思想。在这种事情上这原是我的一种惯例，但是他却忽略了这一步。
On this I form’d my plan; and asking leave to bring in a bill for incorporating the contributors according to the prayer of their petition, and granting them a blank sum of money, which leave was obtained chiefly on the consideration that the House could throw the bill out if they did not like it, I drew it so as to make the important clause a conditional one, viz., “And be it enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that when the said contributors shall have met and chosen their managers and treasurer, and shall have raised by their contributions a capital stock of — value (the yearly interest of which is to be applied to the accommodating of the sick poor in the said hospital, free of charge for diet, attendance, advice, and medicines), and shall make the same appear to the satisfaction of the speaker of the Assembly for the time being, that then it shall and may be lawful for the said speaker, and be is hereby required, to sign an order on the provincial treasurer for the payment of two thousand pounds, in two yearly payments, to the treasurer of the said hospital, to be applied to the founding, building, and finishing of the same.”
我的计划就是建筑在这种情形上的。我请求州议会允许我提出一个议案，按照捐款人的请求把他们组成一个社团并给与津贴若干。州议会允许或提出这一议案主要是因为他们考虑到如果州议会不喜欢它，就可以把它否决掉。我把重要的条款作为一个条件提出，就是说：“兹经本议会决定，当上述捐款人组织起来，选出理事和司库，募集基金若干（年息作为上述医院免费供应清寒病人的伙食、看护、诊治和药剂之用），并向当时的州议会议长提出适当证明时，上述议长当依法签署通知州司库付与上述医院的司库两千镑，分两年付清，每年一次，作为开办修缮和装修之用。”
It was about this time that another projector, the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, came to me with a request that I would assist him in procuring a subscription for erecting a new meeting-house. It was to he for the use of a congregation he had gathered among the Presbyterians, who were originally disciples of Mr. Whitefield. Unwilling to make myself disagreeable to my fellow-citizens by too frequently soliciting their contributions, I absolutely refus’d. He then desired I would furnish him with a list of the names of persons I knew by experience to be generous and public-spirited. I thought it would be unbecoming in me, after their kind compliance with my solicitations, to mark them out to be worried by other beggars, and therefore refus’d also to give such a list. He then desir’d I would at least give him my advice.
约在这时候，另外一个发起人，吉尔柏特·檀南特牧师，来看我，要求我帮助他募捐兴建一所新的教堂。这所教堂将归他手下的长老会教友使用，他们原先是胡飞特先生的信徒。我坚决地拒绝了他的请求，因为我不愿意过分频繁地向市民们募捐，致使他们对我不满。以后他要我提供给他一张名单，列举从经验中我认为是慷慨好赐、热心公益的人的姓名。我想在他们同情地答应了我的请求，捐了款以后，假如我倒反把他们指出来使他们受其他募捐人员的纠缠，那我就太不讲道理了。所以我也拒绝给他这样的名单。后来他要求我至少给他一些忠告。
This condition carried the bill through; for the members, who had oppos’d the grant, and now conceiv’d they might have the credit of being charitable without the expence, agreed to its passage; and then, in soliciting subscriptions among the people, we urg’d the conditional promise of the law as an additional motive to give, since every man’s donation would be doubled; thus the clause work’d both ways. The subscriptions accordingly soon exceeded the requisite sum, and we claim’d and receiv’d the public gift, which enabled us to carry the design into execution. A convenient and handsome building was soon erected; the institution has by constant experience been found useful, and flourishes to this day; and I do not remember any of my political manoeuvres, the success of which gave me at the time more pleasure, or wherein, after thinking of it, I more easily excus’d myself for having made some use of cunning.
这一条件使得该议案获得通过，因为原先反对拨款的议员现在认为他们可以不费分文地获得慈善家的美名，他们就赞成这议案。以后，在向人募捐时，我们强调该议案中的有条件的诺言，使人更乐于捐助，因为每人的捐款将变成双倍。这样这个附带条件在两方面都起了作用。因此捐款总数不久就超过了规定的必需数目，我们提出要求并获得了政府津贴，这就帮助了我们实现这一计划。不久我们建造了一所适宜而又美观的大楼。长期的经验证明这一医院是有益的，直到今日它还很兴旺。在我毕生的政治策划中，没有一桩事情的成功，照我记忆所及，在当时给我这么多的快慰，或是在事后当我想起时，能够如此容易地使我宽宥我自己曾经施行了一个小小的策略。
“That I will readily do,” said I; “and, in the first place, I advise you to apply to all those whom you know will give something; next, to those whom you are uncertain whether they will give any thing or not, and show them the list of those who have given; and, lastly, do not neglect those who you are sure will give nothing, for in some of them you may be mistaken.” He laugh’d and thank’d me, and said he would take my advice. He did so, for he ask’d of everybody, and he obtained a much larger sum than he expected, with which he erected the capacious and very elegant meeting-house that stands in Arch-street.
“这个我倒很愿意，”我说，“首先，我劝你先向那些你知道一定会出钱的人募捐，第二，向那些你不知道究竟会不会捐钱的人募捐，并把已经捐了钱的人的名单给他们看，最后也不要忽略那些你相信不肯出钱的人，因为其中有些人可能你会看错的。”他笑着向我道了谢，他说他愿意接受我的劝告。他倒真的这样做了，他向每一个人募捐，结果是他得到的总数比他预料的大得多。用这笔钱他就修建了拱门街的那所宏伟而又十分华丽的教堂。
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