The partnership at Carolina having succeeded, I was encourag’d to engage in others, and to promote several of my workmen, who had behaved well, by establishing them with printing-houses in different colonies, on the same terms with that in Carolina. Most of them did well, being enabled at the end of our term, six years, to purchase the types of me and go on working for themselves, by which means several families were raised. Partnerships often finish in quarrels; but I was happy in this, that mine were all carried on and ended amicably, owing, I think, a good deal to the precaution of having very explicitly settled, in our articles, every thing to be done by or expected from each partner, so that there was nothing to dispute, which precaution I would therefore recommend to all who enter into partnerships; for, whatever esteem partners may have for, and confidence in each other at the time of the contract, little jealousies and disgusts may arise, with ideas of inequality in the care and burden of the business, etc., which are attended often with breach of friendship and of the connection, perhaps with lawsuits and other disagreeable consequences.
我在卡罗来纳的合伙是成功的，因此我受到鼓励想再提升一些一向行为端正的职工，按照卡罗来纳合伙的条款，订立合伙合同，使他们在各殖民地开设印刷铺。这些职工的事业极大多数都很发达，在我们的合伙合同六年期满之后，他们有能力向我购买铅字，自己独立经营，这样他们就把许多子女抚养成人了。许多合伙的结局往往是争吵，但是我倒很愉快，因为我的合伙事业都进行得很顺利，结局也很和谐，我想这大部分是由于我事先防范误会的发生，在合同中非常明确地说明了双方应尽的义务和应有的权利，所以就不可能发生什么争执。因此我愿意劝告所有合伙的人都采取这种预防，因为不管在订立合同时双方是多么相互尊敬多么相互信任，他们之间日后可能发生小小的猜忌和抱怨，在照料业务和事务负担方面会发生不平之感等等，这样往往引起友谊和合作的破裂，或许引起法律或其他不愉快的后果。
My business was now continually augmenting, and my circumstances growing daily easier, my newspaper having become very profitable, as being for a time almost the only one in this and the neighbouring provinces. I experienced, too, the truth of the observation, “that after getting the first hundred pound, it is more easy to get the second,” money itself being of a prolific nature.
我的生意越来越多了，我的境遇也一天比一天地优裕了，因为我的报纸利润很厚，有一个时候它是本州和邻近各州唯一的报纸。同时我也懂得了这句话的真理：“在获得了第一个一百镑以后，再去赚第二个一百镑就容易得多了。”因为金钱本身是繁生的。
With respect to defense, Spain having been several years at war against Great Britain, and being at length join’d by France, which brought us into great danger; and the laboured and long-continued endeavour of our governor, Thomas, to prevail with our Quaker Assembly to pass a militia law, and make other provisions for the security of the province, having proved abortive, I determined to try what might be done by a voluntary association of the people. To promote this, I first wrote and published a pamphlet, entitled PLAIN TRUTH, in which I stated our defenceless situation in strong lights, with the necessity of union and discipline for our defense, and promis’d to propose in a few days an association, to be generally signed for that purpose. The pamphlet had a sudden and surprising effect. I was call’d upon for the instrument of association, and having settled the draft of it with a few friends, I appointed a meeting of the citizens in the large building before mentioned. The house was pretty full; I had prepared a number of printed copies, and provided pens and ink dispers’d all over the room. I harangued them a little on the subject, read the paper, and explained it, and then distributed the copies, which were eagerly signed, not the least objection being made.
至于关于防务问题，西班牙跟大不列颠已经打了几年仗了，最后法国终于也参加到西班牙一方面去了，这就使我们的处境十分险恶。我们的州长汤麦斯曾经辛勤地不断努力说服在教友会控制下的我们的州议会通过一条民兵法和采取措施保障本州的安全，但是他的努力全然无效。因此我就设法试从人民中间征募义勇军。为了推进这件事，我首先撰写并发表了一本小册子，定名为《平凡的真理》。在这本小册子里我强调指出我们毫无防备的情形，指出为了我们的国防我们必须征集和训练军队，并且约定在几天之内我将提议组织义勇军团队，广泛征求队员来加强国防。这本小册子产生了意想不到令人惊异的效果。有人向我要入队志愿书，我跟几个朋友商订了一个志愿书草样以后，我就在前面提过的大会堂里召集了一个市民会议。会堂里差不多坐满了人。我预先印好了入队志愿书，在会堂各处也预备了笔墨。我向他们讲了一些关于国防的话，读了志愿书的项目并加以解释，以后就把它们发出去，大家踊跃地在志愿书上签了名，连一点异议也没有。
I had, on the whole, abundant reason to be satisfied with my being established in Pennsylvania. There were, however, two things that I regretted, there being no provision for defense, nor for a compleat education of youth; no militia, nor any college. I therefore, in 1743, drew up a proposal for establishing an academy; and at that time, thinking the Reverend Mr. Peters, who was out of employ, a fit person to superintend such an institution, I communicated the project to him; but he, having more profitable views in the service of the proprietaries, which succeeded, declin’d the undertaking; and, not knowing another at that time suitable for such a trust, I let the scheme lie a while dormant. I succeeded better the next year, 1744, in proposing and establishing a Philosophical Society. The paper I wrote for that purpose will be found among my writings, when collected.
大体说来，我对我在宾夕法尼亚开业这一点是十分满意的。但是有两件事却使我感到遗憾，那就是：宾州没有防务，也没有一所教育青年的高等学府；没有民兵队，也没有一所大学。因此在一七四三年我提议建立一所高等学校，当时有一个彼得斯牧师正失业，我就以为他倒是管理这样一个学校的适当人选，我把计划告诉了他，但是他因为想替地主服务，赚大钱，而且已经成功地找到了这样一个职位，所以他就不肯来做这事。因为当时我想不出另一个适合这种职位的人，我就把这计划搁置下来了。第二年（一七四四年）我提出并顺利地成立了一个“哲学研究会”。我为了成立这个会而写的一篇论文，将来我的文集出版时你可以在其中找到。
The officers of the companies composing the Philadelphia regiment, being met, chose me for their colonel; but, conceiving myself unfit, I declin’d that station, and recommended Mr. Lawrence, a fine person, and man of influence, who was accordingly appointed. I then propos’d a lottery to defray the expense of building a battery below the town, and furnishing it with cannon. It filled expeditiously, and the battery was soon erected, the merlons being fram’d of logs and fill’d with earth. We bought some old cannon from Boston, but, these not being sufficient, we wrote to England for more, soliciting, at the same time, our proprietaries for some assistance, tho’ without much expectation of obtaining it.
组成费城联队的各团军官选举我做他们的团长，但是因为我认为我自己不够资格，我谢绝了这个职位，而且推荐了罗凌士先生。他是一个品德高尚又有地位的人。军官们就请他为他们的长官。接着我提议发行奖券，集资在城南修建炮台和装配大炮。资金迅速地凑足了，炮台不日就落成了，雉堞系用圆木构成，里面填上泥土。我们从波士顿买来了几尊旧炮，但是因为数量还不够，我们写信到英国去订购，同时向我们的业主请求援助，虽然我们知道我们在这方面是不能存任何奢望的。
When the company separated, and the papers were collected, we found above twelve hundred hands; and, other copies being dispersed in the country, the subscribers amounted at length to upward of ten thousand. These all furnished themselves as soon as they could with arms, formed themselves into companies and regiments, chose their own officers, and met every week to be instructed in the manual exercise, and other parts of military discipline. The women, by subscriptions among themselves, provided silk colors, which they presented to the companies, painted with different devices and mottos, which I supplied.
散会以后，志愿书收集了起来，我们征集了一千两百个以上的队员。另外还有志愿书分发到其他各地去，申请的人数终于达到一万以上。这些人尽速地自备槍械，自己组织成为团队或联队，选举他们的长官，每周集合一次，进行执槍教练和其他军事训练。妇女们集资购买了绸制军旗，赠送给团队，旗上画着各种各样的图案和箴言。这些图案和箴言是由我提供的。
My activity in these operations was agreeable to the governor and council; they took me into confidence, and I was consulted by them in every measure wherein their concurrence was thought useful to the association. Calling in the aid of religion, I propos’d to them the proclaiming a fast, to promote reformation, and implore the blessing of Heaven on our undertaking. They embrac’d the motion; but, as it was the first fast ever thought of in the province, the secretary had no precedent from which to draw the proclamation. My education in New England, where a fast is proclaimed every year, was here of some advantage: I drew it in the accustomed stile, it was translated into German, printed in both languages, and divulg’d thro’ the province. This gave the clergy of the different sects an opportunity of influencing their congregations to join in the association, and it would probably have been general among all but Quakers if the peace had not soon interven’d.
我在这些方面的活动受到了州长和参事会的欢迎。他们把我当作了知心朋友，他们总问我他们应当采取什么措施，会有益于团练。为了获得宗教的支援，我请他宣布吃斋一日，以求改进军队并祈求上帝祝福我们的事业。他们很欢迎这一建议，但是因为在宾州以前没有举行过斋日，所以秘书找不到前例，不知道应当怎样起草这个文告。在新英格兰这种斋日却是每年宣布的，因此我在那里所受的教育在这里也有点帮助。我就按照传统的格式起了一个草，译成德文，然后用两种文字印了出来，向全州公布。这就给与各教派的牧师一个机会去鼓励他们的会众参加团队。假如不是因为战事很快地结束的话，也许除了教友会以外的各教派都会广泛地参加团队哩。
Meanwhile, Colonel Lawrence, William Allen, Abram Taylor, Esqr., and myself were sent to New York by the associators, commission’d to borrow some cannon of Governor Clinton. He at first refus’d us peremptorily; but at dinner with his council, where there was great drinking of Madeira wine, as the custom of that place then was, he softened by degrees, and said he would lend us six. After a few more bumpers he advanc’d to ten; and at length he very good-naturedly conceded eighteen. They were fine cannon, eighteen-pounders, with their carriages, which we soon transported and mounted on our battery, where the associators kept a nightly guard while the war lasted, and among the rest I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common soldier.
同时，团队派遣我和罗凌士团长、威廉·阿伦先生、亚布篮·泰罗先生到纽约去向克林吞州长借几尊大炮。他起初坚决地拒绝了我们。当他和他的参事进晚餐时，按照当时当地的习惯，他们喝了大量的白葡萄酒，他的态度就渐渐地软化了，他说他愿意借给我们六尊。接着又满满地喝了几杯以后，他把数目增高到十尊，到了末了他十分温厚地答应让给我们十八尊。他借给我们的倒是质地优良的上等十八磅炮，连同炮架在内。没多时我们把它们运回来装在我们的炮台上。在战争继续期间，团队每夜在炮台上放哨守望，我跟着其他队员像一个普通士兵一样按时轮班值勤。
It was thought by some of my friends that, by my activity in these affairs, I should offend that sect, and thereby lose my interest in the Assembly of the province, where they formed a great majority. A young gentleman who had likewise some friends in the House, and wished to succeed me as their clerk, acquainted me that it was decided to displace me at the next election; and he, therefore, in good will, advis’d me to resign, as more consistent with my honour than being turn’d out. My answer to him was, that I had read or heard of some public man who made it a rule never to ask for an office, and never to refuse one when offer’d to him. “I approve,” says I, “of his rule, and will practice it with a small addition; I shall never ask, never refuse, nor ever resign an office. If they will have my office of clerk to dispose of to another, they shall take it from me. I will not, by giving it up, lose my right of some time or other making reprisals on my adversaries.” I heard, however, no more of this; I was chosen again unanimously as usual at the next election. Possibly, as they dislik’d my late intimacy with the members of council, who had join’d the governors in all the disputes about military preparations, with which the House had long been harass’d, they might have been pleas’d if I would voluntarily have left them; but they did not care to displace me on account merely of my zeal for the association, and they could not well give another reason.
我有些朋友认为，我从事这些活动会触犯教友会因而失去我在宾州州议会中的势力，因为他们在州议会中占极大多数。一个年轻绅士，他在州议会里也有一些朋友，想要把我挤走，好由他来继任州议会的秘书，就对我说，议员们已经决定在下次选举时把我免职，于是他善意地劝我辞职，认为辞职比免职要体面些。我对他的回答是：我曾经读到过或听到过有一个政治家，他有一条原则：他从不请求职位，但是当别人请他任职时他也从不拒绝接受。我说：“我赞成他的原则，只是我在执行时我将增加小小的一点：我将从不请求职位，从不拒绝职位，同时也从不辞职。假如他们把我秘书的职位交给另一个人，他们很可以把我免职。但是我决不辞职，因而放弃在适当时候向我的对手报复的权利。”但是以后我不再听到这件事了。在下一次选举时我又一次当了选，像往常一样是全体一致通过的。历任州长与他的参事会在军事准备问题上面一向和州议会有着不同的看法，而州议会对这些问题感到头痛。可能因为议员们不喜欢我近来跟参事们过往较密，他们想要我自动离开他们，但是他们不愿意仅仅为了我热心团练就把我免职，而此外又找不到其他理由。
Indeed I had some cause to believe that the defense of the country was not disagreeable to any of them, provided they were not requir’d to assist in it. And I found that a much greater number of them than I could have imagined, tho’ against offensive war, were clearly for the defensive. Many pamphlets pro and con were publish’d on the subject, and some by good Quakers, in favour of defense, which I believe convinc’d most of their younger people.
其实，我相信假如我们不要求州议会积极协助的话，他们当中任何人也不是不赞成国防建设的。我发现有很多人，虽然他们反对侵略性的战争，但是却不反对防御性的战事，这种人比我预料的多得多。关于国防这个问题双方发表了许多小册子，有一些赞成国防的小册子却是一些优秀的教友会教友写的。我相信这些文章说服了大多数年轻的教友会教友。
A transaction in our fire company gave me some insight into their prevailing sentiments. It had been propos’d that we should encourage the scheme for building a battery by laying out the present stock, then about sixty pounds, in tickets of the lottery. By our rules, no money could be dispos’d of till the next meeting after the proposal. The company consisted of thirty members, of which twenty-two were Quakers, and eight only of other persuasions. We eight punctually attended the meeting; but, tho’ we thought that some of the Quakers would join us, we were by no means sure of a majority. Only one Quaker, Mr. James Morris, appear’d to oppose the measure. He expressed much sorrow that it had ever been propos’d, as he said Friends were all against it, and it would create such discord as might break up the company. We told him that we saw no reason for that; we were the minority, and if Friends were against the measure, and outvoted us, we must and should, agreeably to the usage of all societies, submit. When the hour for business arriv’d it was mov’d to put the vote; he allow’d we might then do it by the rules, but, as he could assure us that a number of members intended to be present for the purpose of opposing it, it would be but candid to allow a little time for their appearing.
关于我们的消防队，有这么一件事，使我了解了一些教友会之间流行的一种想法。有人提议为了资助炮台的建筑起见，我们应当用当时消防队的约六十镑的资金来购买彩票。根据我们的规章，动用款项必须在建议提出后的下一届会议中通过，消防队有三十个会员，其中二十二个是教友会教友，仅仅八个会员属于其他教派。我们八个人准时出席了会议，虽然我们知道有一些教友会教友将站在我们这一边，但是究竟我们的主张能否获得多数通过我们毫无把握。只有一个教友会教友，詹姆士·莫理斯先生，出席反对这一提案。他对于这一提案的提出深表惋惜，因为他说所有教友会教友都反对这件事，它会引起争执，这种纷争或许会导致消防队的解散。我们告诉他我们想不至于的，因为我们是少数，假如教友会教友反对这一提案，在投票时胜过了我们，按照议事规程我们必须服从多数，而且也应该如此。讨论议案的时候到了，就有人提议进行表决，他承认按照规章我们可以在那时表决，但是因为他说他可以向我们证明有一些会员是打算来出席投反对票的，我们就应该稍稍等待他们一忽儿。
While we were disputing this, a waiter came to tell me two gentlemen below desir’d to speak with me. I went down, and found they were two of our Quaker members. They told me there were eight of them assembled at a tavern just by; that they were determin’d to come and vote with us if there should be occasion, which they hop’d would not be the case, and desir’d we would not call for their assistance if we could do without it, as their voting for such a measure might embroil them with their elders and friends. Being thus secure of a majority, I went up, and after a little seeming hesitation, agreed to a delay of another hour. This Mr. Morris allow’d to be extreamly fair. Not one of his opposing friends appear’d, at which he express’d great surprize; and, at the expiration of the hour, we carry’d the resolution eight to one; and as, of the twenty-two Quakers, eight were ready to vote with us, and thirteen, by their absence, manifested that they were not inclin’d to oppose the measure, I afterward estimated the proportion of Quakers sincerely against defense as one to twenty-one only; for these were all regular members of that society, and in good reputation among them, and had due notice of what was propos’d at that meeting.
当我们正在争论时，一个侍者跑过来告诉我楼下有两位绅士找我谈话。我跑到楼下一看，原来是我们消防队的两个教友会的会员。他们告诉我有八位教友会的会员在附近的一家酒馆里，他们说假如有必要的话，他们一定会来开会和我们在一起投赞成票，但是他们希望不必这样做。假如我们可以不需要他们的出席而通过议案，他们要求我们不要叫他们来协助，因为若是他们投票赞成这样一个措施，他们的长者和朋友们可能会责难他们。这样我既然有了通过这一措施的把握，我就回到楼上去，假装踌躇一回以后，我就同意延迟一小时。莫理斯先生认为这样做是十分公正的。但是他的投反对票的朋友一个也没有来，这就使他大为诧异。一小时后，我们就以八比一的多数通过了这一决议。因为在二十二个教友会教友中，八个愿意跟我们投赞成票，十三人不出席，表示他们不愿意投票反对，所以按照我的估计我认为真正反对国防的教友会教友的比例仅是一与二十一之比，因为这些人全是教友会的忠实信徒，在他们中间声誉颇好，而且也都知道这次开会要讨论的议程。
The honorable and learned Mr. Logan, who had always been of that sect, was one who wrote an address to them, declaring his approbation of defensive war, and supporting his opinion by many strong arguments. He put into my hands sixty pounds to be laid out in lottery tickets for the battery, with directions to apply what prizes might be drawn wholly to that service. He told me the following anecdote of his old master, William Penn, respecting defense. He came over from England, when a young man, with that proprietary, and as his secretary. It was war-time, and their ship was chas’d by an armed vessel, suppos’d to be an enemy. Their captain prepar’d for defense; but told William Penn and his company of Quakers, that he did not expect their assistance, and they might retire into the cabin, which they did, except James Logan, who chose to stay upon deck, and was quarter’d to a gun. The suppos’d enemy prov’d a friend, so there was no fighting; but when the secretary went down to communicate the intelligence, William Penn rebuk’d him severely for staying upon deck, and undertaking to assist in defending the vessel, contrary to the principles of Friends, especially as it had not been required by the captain. This reproof, being before all the company, piqu’d the secretary, who answer’d, “I being thy servant, why did thee not order me to come down? But thee was willing enough that I should stay and help to fight the ship when thee thought there was danger.”
有一位德高望重博学多才的陆干先生，他一向是教友会教友，他写了一封公开信给教友会教友，说明他赞成防御性战事，并且言之有理，持之有故。他交给我六十镑去购买炮台奖券，并且言明如果彩票中奖，奖金全部捐献作修建炮台之用。关于防御性战争，他告诉我一个关于他从前的东家威廉·潘的故事。当他年轻时，他跟着业主威廉·潘从英国渡海到美洲来，他是他的秘书。刚巧这是战争时期，有一只武装了的船紧紧地追赶着他们的船，他们猜想这是一只敌船。他们的船长就准备抵抗，但是船长告诉威廉·潘和他的教友会随从说，他不期望他们的协助，他们可以躲到舱里去，他们都下去了，只有詹姆士·陆干一人，他宁愿留在甲板上，船长就命令他看守一尊炮。这个假想的敌船，却实在是一只友好的船只，所以没有战争。但是当这位秘书跑下去报告消息时，威廉·潘严厉地责备他不应该留在甲板上，违反教友会的教规，参加船的保卫工作，特别是因为船长并没有要求他这样做。威廉·潘当着大众面前责骂他，惹怒了这位秘书，他说：“我是你的仆人，你为什么不命令我下去呢？但是当情势危急时，你倒很愿意我留在上面协助保卫船只哩！”
My being many years in the Assembly, the majority of which were constantly Quakers, gave me frequent opportunities of seeing the embarrassment given them by their principle against war, whenever application was made to them, by order of the crown, to grant aids for military purposes. They were unwilling to offend government, on the one hand, by a direct refusal; and their friends, the body of the Quakers, on the other, by a compliance contrary to their principles; hence a variety of evasions to avoid complying, and modes of disguising the compliance when it became unavoidable. The common mode at last was, to grant money under the phrase of its being “for the king’s use,” and never to inquire how it was applied.
州议会中的成员绝大多数一向是教友会教友，我在那里多年，我常常看到每当国王命令他们通过军事补助金时，由于他们在原则上反对战争，他们感到进退维谷。一方面，他们不愿意开罪于英王政府，而直截了当地拒绝拨款，但在另一方面，他们也不愿意触怒他们的朋友，教友会的大多数教友，违反他们的原则，顺从国王的意旨。因此他们想出各种各样的遁词来推托，而每当无可推诿非顺从不可时，他们想出各种掩耳盗铃的伪装方法。最常用的方法终于是在“供国王应用”的名义下通过拨款，但从不过问该款的具体用途。
But, if the demand was not directly from the crown, that phrase was found not so proper, and some other was to be invented. As, when powder was wanting (I think it was for the garrison at Louisburg), and the government of New England solicited a grant of some from Pennsilvania, which was much urg’d on the House by Governor Thomas, they could not grant money to buy powder, because that was an ingredient of war; but they voted an aid to New England of three thousand pounds, to he put into the hands of the governor, and appropriated it for the purchasing of bread, flour, wheat, or other grain. Some of the council, desirous of giving the House still further embarrassment, advis’d the governor not to accept provision, as not being the thing he had demanded; but be reply’d, “I shall take the money, for I understand very well their meaning; other grain is gunpowder,” which he accordingly bought, and they never objected to it.
但是假如请求拨款的命令不是直接从国王来的，这句话就不大适用了，他们就得另外想出一些花样来。比方说，新英格兰的政府因缺乏火药（我想是为了防守路易堡）请求宾夕法尼亚拨给一些火药，汤麦斯州长极力主张州议会应当加以援助，而州议会又无法给钱购买火药，因为火药是战争的要素，但是他们通过拨款三千镑援助新英格兰，款项交由州长掌握，作为购买粮食、面粉或其他粒状物之用。有些参事想给州议会更多的麻烦，劝州长不要接受这笔款项，因为它不符合他的要求，但是他回答说：“我接受这笔钱，因为我很了解它的意义。所谓其他粒状物就是火药。”因此他购买了火药，他们从不反对此事。
It was in allusion to this fact that, when in our fire company we feared the success of our proposal in favour of the lottery, and I had said to my friend Mr. Syng, one of our members, “If we fail, let us move the purchase of a fire-engine with the money; the Quakers can have no objection to that; and then, if you nominate me and I you as a committee for that purpose, we will buy a great gun, which is certainly a fire-engine.” “I see,” says he, “you have improv’d by being so long in the Assembly; your equivocal project would be just a match for their wheat or other grain.”
在我们的消防队里，当我们害怕我们购买奖券的议案通不过时，我就想到这件事，我对我的朋友沈先生（我们的一个队员）说：“假如我们的提议通不过，让我们提议用这笔钱来购买一架救火机，教友会教友不会反对这件事，接着你就提我的名，我提你的名，我们两人组成委员会购买机器，我们就买一尊火炮，这当然是一架火机呀。”此处原文是“fire—engine”，意即“救火机”，但如果照字面解释，也可说是一架“火机”。富兰克林这里利用了这一双关语。——译者注他说：“原来你在州议会里呆了那么久，你也有了进步了。你这双关的计划简直可与他们的‘粮食或其他粒状物’先后媲美了。”
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