But now another difficulty came upon me which I had never the least reason to expect. Mr. Meredith’s father, who was to have paid for our printing-house, according to the expectations given me, was able to advance only one hundred pounds currency, which had been paid; and a hundred more was due to the merchant, who grew impatient, and su’d us all. We gave bail, but saw that, if the money could not be rais’d in time, the suit must soon come to a judgment and execution, and our hopeful prospects must, with us, be ruined, as the press and letters must be sold for payment, perhaps at half price.
但是这时完全出乎我意料以外地另外一种困难发生了。梅莱笛斯的父亲，按照我们原来的谅解，应当付偿我们印刷铺设备的费用，但是他付了一百镑，他只能付出这一百镑，还欠了一个商人一百镑，这个商人等不及了，就向法院告了我们。我们缴了保释金，但是我们看到假如我们不能及时地筹措款项的话，法庭不久就得宣判和执行，那么我们美好的希望将与我们一起遭到破灭，因为他们要把印刷机和铅字出卖还债，可能还是半价出售哩。
In this distress two true friends, whose kindness I have never forgotten, nor ever shall forget while I can remember any thing, came to me separately, unknown to each other, and, without any application from me, offering each of them to advance me all the money that should be necessary to enable me to take the whole business upon myself, if that should be practicable; but they did not like my continuing the partnership with Meredith, who, as they said, was often seen drunk in the streets, and playing at low games in alehouses, much to our discredit. These two friends were William Coleman and Robert Grace. I told them I could not propose a separation while any prospect remain’d of the Merediths’ fulfilling their part of our agreement, because I thought myself under great obligations to them for what they had done, and would do if they could; but, if they finally fail’d in their performance, and our partnership must be dissolv’d, I should then think myself at liberty to accept the assistance of my friends.
在这种不幸之际却来了两个真正的朋友，他们的友情我从来也没有忘记，而且在毕生中将永志不忘。他们各人分别地不约而同地并且自动地愿意为我垫付一切必需的款项，使我能够自己单独经营业务，假如办得到的话。但是他们不喜欢我和梅莱笛斯继续合伙，他们说有人常看见梅莱笛斯喝醉了酒在街上行走；也有人看见他在酒馆里玩下流的赌博，这些对我都是奇耻大辱。这两位朋友是威廉·柯尔曼和劳勃脱·葛莱丝。我告诉他们只要还有希望梅莱笛斯父子能够履行他们在协定中的义务，我就不忍提议拆伙，因为我觉得他们过去帮了我不少忙，如果他们有能力的话，他们现在还将帮我忙，我受过了他们不少的恩惠。但是假如他们终于不能履行他们的义务，因而我们的合伙势非解散不可的话，到了那时我将认为我可以随意接受我友人们的协助了。
Mr. Vernon, about this time, put me in mind of the debt I ow’d him, but did not press me. I wrote him an ingenuous letter of acknowledgment, crav’d his forbearance a little longer, which he allow’d me, and as soon as I was able, I paid the principal with interest, and many thanks; so that erratum was in some degree corrected.
约在此时，佛南提醒我我欠他的债款，但是他并不催迫我。我写了一封信给他，坦白地承认我的过失，恳请他再展缓一些时候，他也答应了，一等到我有了能力，我就连本带息地把它付清了，并且表达了我的谢意。这样，这一个过失在某种程度上总算改正了。
Thus the matter rested for some time, when I said to my partner, “Perhaps your father is dissatisfied at the part you have undertaken in this affair of ours, and is unwilling to advance for you and me what he would for you alone. If that is the case, tell me, and I will resign the whole to you, and go about my business.” “No,” said he, “my father has really been disappointed, and is really unable; and I am unwilling to distress him farther. I see this is a business I am not fit for. I was bred a farmer, and it was a folly in me to come to town, and put myself, at thirty years of age, an apprentice to learn a new trade. Many of our Welsh people are going to settle in North Carolina, where land is cheap. I am inclin’d to go with them, and follow my old employment. You may find friends to assist you. If you will take the debts of the company upon you; return to my father the hundred pound he has advanced; pay my little personal debts, and give me thirty pounds and a new saddle, I will relinquish the partnership, and leave the whole in your hands.” I agreed to this proposal: it was drawn up in writing, sign’d, and seal’d immediately. I gave him what he demanded, and he went soon after to Carolina, from whence he sent me next year two long letters, containing the best account that had been given of that country, the climate, the soil, husbandry, etc., for in those matters he was very judicious. I printed them in the papers, and they gave great satisfaction to the publick.
事情就这样拖了一个时候，我就对我的伙友说：“可能你父亲不喜欢你参加我的事业，因此他不愿替我们两人垫付款项，但是他可能却愿意替你一人出钱。假如是这样的话，请你告诉我，我将退出合伙，离开此地。”“不，”他说，“我父亲倒是真正的感到失望的，他是真正无力垫付款项，同时我也不愿意更使他痛心。我现在知道我不能胜任这个印刷工作。我从小就学农，我的进城来，在三十岁的年龄，充当学徒去学习一种新的行业，实在是一件荒唐事。我们有很多威尔斯人将到北卡罗来纳去殖民，因为那里土地很便宜。我想跟他们一块儿去干我的老行业。你可以找朋友来帮助你，假如你愿意承担印刷所的债务，归还我父亲所垫的一百镑，替我还清我个人的一些零星欠款，再给我三十镑和一个新的马鞍，我将让与我的股权。全部产权归你所有。”我同意他的提议。我们马上就写了一张证书，签了字盖了印。我给了他他所要求的东西，不久他就到卡罗来纳去了，第二年他从那里寄了两封长信给我，信里包含了关于那一地区到那时为止最好的一篇叙述，讲到它的气候、土壤、农业等。因为关于这些事情他原是十分内行的。我把它们在报上发表了，读者大为满意。
About this time there was a cry among the people for more paper money, only fifteen thousand pounds being extant in the province, and that soon to be sunk. The wealthy inhabitants oppos’d any addition, being against all paper currency, from an apprehension that it would depreciate, as it had done in New England, to the prejudice of all creditors. We had discuss’d this point in our Junto, where I was on the side of an addition, being persuaded that the first small sum struck in 1723 had done much good by increasing the trade, employment, and number of inhabitants in the province, since I now saw all the old houses inhabited, and many new ones building; whereas I remembered well, that when I first walk’d about the streets of Philadelphia, eating my roll, I saw most of the houses in Walnut-street, between Second and Front streets, with bills on their doors, “To be let”; and many likewise in Chestnut-street and other streets, which made me then think the inhabitants of the city were deserting it one after another.
约在这时候，在人民中间有一种要求发行更多纸币的呼声，当时宾夕法尼亚的纸币流通额只有一万五千镑，就是这一数目不久也将要减少。富裕阶层反对增添纸币，他们反对一切纸币，由于他们害怕纸币会使货币贬值，像在新英格兰发生的那样，致使债权人处于不利地位。我们在我们的“密社”中曾经讨论过这一个问题。当时我赞成增发纸币，因为我相信一七二三年所铸造的小量货币做了不少好事，它促进了商业和就业，增加了本州的居民，因为我现在看到所有的老房子都住满了人，许多新房子在建筑中，但是我记得很清楚，当我首次吃着我的面包卷走在费城街上的时候，我看见在胡桃街从第二街到前街这一段街道上的大多数房屋都在门上贴着招租条子，在板栗街和其他街道上的许多房屋也是如此。这种情形当时使我以为费城的居民正在不断地离开这一城市哩。
As soon as he was gone, I recurr’d to my two friends; and because I would not give an unkind preference to either, I took half of what each had offered and I wanted of one, and half of the other; paid off the company’s debts, and went on with the business in my own name, advertising that the partnership was dissolved. I think this was in or about the year 1729.
他一走，我就去求助我的两位朋友。因为我不愿意对任何一位有所偏爱，我就向每一位借了他所提供的半数，也就是我本来要向一个人借贷的半数，偿清了印刷铺的债务，就开始以自己的名义经营事业，同时公开宣布合伙的解散。我想这是在一七二九年或是那年前后。
The utility of this currency became by time and experience so evident as never afterwards to be much disputed; so that it grew soon to fifty-five thousand pounds, and in 1739 to eighty thousand pounds, since which it arose during war to upwards of three hundred and fifty thousand pounds, trade, building, and inhabitants all the while increasing, till I now think there are limits beyond which the quantity may be hurtful.
经过时间和经验的考验，纸币的效用变得十分明显，以后就没有引起很多的争辩。结果，不久纸币发行额就达到了五千镑，一七三九年到了八万镑，以后在战争期间超过了三十五万镑，因为商业、建筑和居民的人数都在不断地增多。虽然现在我想纸币发行额有一限度，过了这一限度就可能有害了。
Our debates possess’d me so fully of the subject, that I wrote and printed an anonymous pamphlet on it, entitled “The Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency.” It was well receiv’d by the common people in general; but the rich men dislik’d it, for it increas’d and strengthen’d the clamor for more money, and they happening to have no writers among them that were able to answer it, their opposition slacken’d, and the point was carried by a majority in the House. My friends there, who conceiv’d I had been of some service, thought fit to reward me by employing me in printing the money; a very profitable jobb and a great help to me. This was another advantage gain’d by my being able to write.
我们的辩论使我对于这一题目感到很大的兴趣，甚至我撰写和发表了一本不具名的小册子，名为《纸币的性质和需要》。普通的百姓很欢迎它，但是有钱人不喜欢它，因为它增大和加强了增加货币的呼喊。碰巧在富人这边他们没有作家能够回答这一小册子，因此他们的反抗减弱了。这样，增发纸币这一议案就在州议会中以大多数通过了。我在州议会中的朋友们想到我对这一议案的通过有些贡献，认为应当由我来承印纸币，作为酬答。这是一宗利润很厚的生意，对我帮助很大。这是我会写文章的又一个好处。
I now open’d a little stationer’s shop. I had in it blanks of all sorts, the correctest that ever appear’d among us, being assisted in that by my friend Breintnal. I had also paper, parchment, chapmen’s books, etc. One Whitemash, a compositor I had known in London, an excellent workman, now came to me, and work’d with me constantly and diligently; and I took an apprentice, the son of Aquila Rose.
现在我开了小小的一家文具铺，我备有各种各样的空白单据，在这方面靠着我的朋友勃赖诺的帮助，我们出卖的单据是在殖民地里式样最正确的。我也备有纸张，羊皮纸，小贩的账簿等。一个叫做华德麦西的是我在伦敦认识的一个排字工人，一个优秀工人，现在他到我这里来了，他不断地勤劳地跟我在一起工作，我也收了一个学徒，是阿克拉·罗斯的儿子。
I soon after obtain’d, thro’ my friend Hamilton, the printing of the Newcastle paper money, another profitable jobb as I then thought it; small things appearing great to those in small circumstances; and these, to me, were really great advantages, as they were great encouragements. He procured for me, also, the printing of the laws and votes of that government, which continu’d in my hands as long as I follow’d the business.
不久以后通过我的朋友汉密顿，我获得承印纽开色纸币的生意。照我当时的看法，这又是一宗赚钱的生意，因为对于穷人来说，小事情就显得很重大了。这些生意对我实在是大有裨益的，因为它们大有利可图。汉密顿也替我招揽了承印纽开色政府法律和选举票的生意，这宗生意到我离开印刷业之前一直在我手中。
I began now gradually to pay off the debt I was under for the printing-house. In order to secure my credit and character as a tradesman, I took care not only to be in reality industrious and frugal, but to avoid all appearances to the contrary. I drest plainly; I was seen at no places of idle diversion. I never went out a fishing or shooting; a book, indeed, sometimes debauch’d me from my work, but that was seldom, snug, and gave no scandal; and, to show that I was not above my business, I sometimes brought home the paper I purchas’d at the stores thro’ the streets on a wheelbarrow. Thus being esteem’d an industrious, thriving young man, and paying duly for what I bought, the merchants who imported stationery solicited my custom; others proposed supplying me with books, and I went on swimmingly. In the mean time, Keimer’s credit and business declining daily, he was at last forc’d to sell his printing house to satisfy his creditors. He went to Barbadoes, and there lived some years in very poor circumstances.
现在我开始逐步地还清我为了创办印刷所而借的债款。为了获得商人的名誉和声望，我当心不但在事实上要克勤克俭，并且要避免一切相反的外貌。我衣着朴素，我从不在无益的娱乐场所出现，我从不出去钓鱼或打猎，的确有时候读书使我旷工，但那只是偶一为之，而且是隐藏的，不至于要大家说闲话。并且为了表示我不以我的行业为耻，我有时把我在纸店里买好的纸张装在独轮车上自己推着经过街道运回家来。这样，大家认为我是一个勤劳上进的青年，严守信用，从不拖欠，所以进口文具用品的商人们求我惠顾，别的商人们也提议我替他们代销书籍。我的事业一帆风顺，同时，凯谋的信誉和生意却一天比一天地衰落，最后他不得不出卖他的印刷铺设备以清偿债务，他到巴巴多群岛去了。在那里他住了几年，生活十分穷困。
His apprentice, David Harry, whom I had instructed while I work’d with him, set up in his place at Philadelphia, having bought his materials. I was at first apprehensive of a powerful rival in Harry, as his friends were very able, and had a good deal of interest. I therefore propos’d a partnership to him which he, fortunately for me, rejected with scorn. He was very proud, dress’d like a gentleman, liv’d expensively, took much diversion and pleasure abroad, ran in debt, and neglected his business; upon which, all business left him; and, finding nothing to do, he followed Keimer to Barbadoes, taking the printing-house with him. There this apprentice employ’d his former master as a journeyman; they quarrel’d often; Harry went continually behindhand, and at length was forc’d to sell his types and return to his country work in Pensilvania. The person that bought them employ’d Keimer to use them, but in a few years he died.
他的学徒大卫·哈利，当我在凯谋铺子里工作时，我曾经教导过他。这时候，在购买了凯谋的设备以后，顶替了他的地位开张了。起初，我怕哈利是一个强有力的竞争者，因为他的亲友们很有能力，也很有势力。因此，我提议跟他合伙经营，但是幸亏他轻蔑地拒绝了我。他十分骄傲自大，穿着上流人的服装，生活奢侈，常在外面寻求消遣和快乐，负了债，旷废了他的业务。因此，一切生意都跑了。既然没有生意可做，他学了凯谋的样，到巴巴多群岛去了，把印刷铺也搬了去。在那里这位学徒雇用了他过去的老板作为一个职工。他们时常争吵。哈利负债越来越多了，最后他不得不把他的铅字出卖，回到宾夕法尼亚务农去了。购买印刷铺设备的人雇用了凯谋来使用这些设备，但是几年以后凯谋就死了。
There remained now no competitor with me at Philadelphia but the old one, Bradford; who was rich and easy, did a little printing now and then by straggling hands, but was not very anxious about the business. However, as he kept the post-office, it was imagined he had better opportunities of obtaining news; his paper was thought a better distributer of advertisements than mine, and therefore had many, more, which was a profitable thing to him, and a disadvantage to me; for, tho’ I did indeed receive and send papers by the post, yet the publick opinion was otherwise, for what I did send was by bribing the riders, who took them privately, Bradford being unkind enough to forbid it, which occasion’d some resentment on my part; and I thought so meanly of him for it, that, when I afterward came into his situation, I took care never to imitate it.
现在除了多年的劲敌勃拉福以外，在费城再也没有人跟我竞争了。勃拉福资金充足，生活优裕，只是偶然雇用些零工做点少量的印刷工作，但是他并不因为生意清淡而担忧，由于他管理驿站，人们以为他有比别人优先获得新闻的机会，大家以为他的报纸的广告效力比我的大，因此他的广告比我的多得多，这对他有利，对我不利，因为虽然我也从驿站里收到和寄发报纸，但是外界并不知道，这是因为我是通过贿赂驿站的骑师才把报纸寄往各地的，骑师们只能暗中收受寄件，因为勃拉福毫不讲情理地禁止他们寄递我的报纸，这种行为使我有点生气，也使我因此而瞧不起他，所以后来当我达到他的地位管理驿站时，我决心绝对不模仿他的行为。
I had hitherto continu’d to board with Godfrey, who lived in part of my house with his wife and children, and had one side of the shop for his glazier’s business, tho’ he worked little, being always absorbed in his mathematics. Mrs. Godfrey projected a match for me with a relation’s daughter, took opportunities of bringing us often together, till a serious courtship on my part ensu’d, the girl being in herself very deserving. The old folks encourag’d me by continual invitations to supper, and by leaving us together, till at length it was time to explain. Mrs. Godfrey manag’d our little treaty. I let her know that I expected as much money with their daughter as would pay off my remaining debt for the printing-house, which I believe was not then above a hundred pounds. She brought me word they had no such sum to spare; I said they might mortgage their house in the loan-office. The answer to this, after some days, was, that they did not approve the match; that, on inquiry of Bradford, they had been inform’d the printing business was not a profitable one; the types would soon be worn out, and more wanted; that S. Keimer and D. Harry had failed one after the other, and I should probably soon follow them; and, therefore, I was forbidden the house, and the daughter shut up.
到这时候为止我一直在高德福莱家寄膳，他跟他的妻子孩子们占用我房屋的一部分，他在我铺子的一边开了一家玻璃铺，虽然他不大做工作，因为他热中于数学的研究。高德福莱太太打算替我和她的一个亲戚的女儿做媒，常常找机会使我们见面，到了后来我真正地对她发生了感情，因为这个女孩原是很可爱的。这些老年人鼓励我，不断地邀请我去吃饭，让我们两人在一起，到了后来就该是摊牌的时候了。高德福莱太太替我们传话。我告诉她我希望我能从他们的女儿那里获得付清我印刷铺借款的余数，当时这笔钱我想不超过一百镑，她传言他们回答说他们没有这样一笔剩款可以给我，我说他们可以到银行里去抵押他们的房子，过了几天他们对这件事的回答是他们不赞成我们的婚事了。他们曾向勃拉福打听，勃拉福告诉他们印刷业并不是一种赚钱的行业，铅字很快就要损坏，需要更多的铅字，凯谋和哈利相继地都失败了，我大概不久也将步他们的后尘，因此他们不许我再到他们家里去。同时，把他们的女儿也禁闭起来了。
Whether this was a real change of sentiment or only artifice, on a supposition of our being too far engaged in affection to retract, and therefore that we should steal a marriage, which would leave them at liberty to give or withhold what they pleas’d, I know not; but I suspected the latter, resented it, and went no more. Mrs. Godfrey brought me afterward some more favorable accounts of their disposition, and would have drawn me on again; but I declared absolutely my resolution to have nothing more to do with that family. This was resented by the Godfreys; we differ’d, and they removed, leaving me the whole house, and I resolved to take no more inmates.
究竟是不是他们真的改变了主张，或是只是一种诡计，以为我们的感情已经根深蒂固不能自拔，因此我们会私奔，这样他们就可以随意地给或是不给什么嫁资，这我就不知道了。但是我猜想他们的动机是后者，我很生气，就不再去了。高德福莱太太后来告诉我他们的态度有了好转，还想再引诱我去，但是我告诉她我决心不与那家再有来往了。高德福莱全家都因此而生气，我们之间发生了意见，他们就搬走了，这样整所房屋都归我住，我决定不再招收租户了。
But this affair having turned my thoughts to marriage, I look’d round me and made overtures of acquaintance in other places; but soon found that, the business of a printer being generally thought a poor one, I was not to expect money with a wife, unless with such a one as I should not otherwise think agreeable. In the mean time, that hard-to-be-governed passion of youth hurried me frequently into intrigues with low women that fell in my way, which were attended with some expense and great inconvenience, besides a continual risque to my health by a distemper which of all things I dreaded, though by great good luck I escaped it.
但是这件事却使我想结婚了，所以我向周围观看，向其他地方去找朋友，但是不久我发现，因为一般人认为印刷业不是一种赚钱的行业，我不能希望从妻子处得到钱财，除非从那些否则不合我心意的女人那里。同时，那一种不易抑制的年轻人的情欲常常驱使我与那些偶然相遇的下流女人发生关系，这种事不但花钱，非常麻烦，而且不断地使我有传染到一种我最最害怕的疾病的危险，虽然侥天之幸，我没有得到这种病。
A friendly correspondence as neighbors and old acquaintances had continued between me and Mrs. Read’s family, who all had a regard for me from the time of my first lodging in their house. I was often invited there and consulted in their affairs, wherein I sometimes was of service. I piti’d poor Miss Read’s unfortunate situation, who was generally dejected, seldom cheerful, and avoided company. I considered my giddiness and inconstancy when in London as in a great degree the cause of her unhappiness, tho’ the mother was good enough to think the fault more her own than mine, as she had prevented our marrying before I went thither, and persuaded the other match in my absence. Our mutual affection was revived, but there were now great objections to our union. The match was indeed looked upon as invalid, a preceding wife being said to be living in England; but this could not easily be prov’d, because of the distance; and, tho’ there was a report of his death, it was not certain. Then, tho’ it should be true, he had left many debts, which his successor might be call’d upon to pay. We ventured, however, over all these difficulties, and I took her to wife, September 1st, 1730.
在这期间，作为邻居和老朋友，我和李得太太全家继续维持着一种友好的通信关系，从我寄住在她们家里的第一天起，她们都很尊敬我。她们常常请我去，和我商量她们的事情，有时候我也能在这些事上给她们一些帮助。我对可怜的李得小姐的不幸遭遇表示同情，她总是没精打采的，很少高高兴兴的，并且不愿意跟人来往。我认为我在伦敦期间的轻浮与变心应当对她的痛苦负相当大的责任，虽然她母亲很善良地以为她自己的责任比我的还大，因为她曾经阻止我们在我到英国去之前结婚，而且在我出国期间又劝她嫁给别人。我们相互的感情又恢复了，但是现在我们要结婚却有许多困难，她第一次的结婚果然是无效的，因为据说他的前妻还在英国活着，但是由于距离的关系，这一点不容易证明。再则，虽然传说他已经死了，这也不能确定。即使他真的死了，他留下了许多欠账，他的继承人也许得负责偿付。但是我们毕竟冒着这些危险，我跟她在一七三○年九月一日结婚了。
None of the inconveniences happened that we had apprehended, she proved a good and faithful helpmate, assisted me much by attending the shop; we throve together, and have ever mutually endeavored to make each other happy. Thus I corrected that great erratum as well as I could.
我们意料中那些麻烦一件也没有发生，她是一个善良的忠实的伴侣，大力地帮助我照料铺子，我们在一起兴旺起来了，我们一直总是努力相互安慰体贴。这样，我总算尽可能地改正了那一大过错。
About this time, our club meeting, not at a tavern, but in a little room of Mr. Grace’s, set apart for that purpose, a proposition was made by me, that, since our books were often referr’d to in our disquisitions upon the queries, it might be convenient to us to have them altogether where we met, that upon occasion they might be consulted; and by thus clubbing our books to a common library, we should, while we lik’d to keep them together, have each of us the advantage of using the books of all the other members, which would be nearly as beneficial as if each owned the whole. It was lik’d and agreed to, and we fill’d one end of the room with such books as we could best spare. The number was not so great as we expected; and tho’ they had been of great use, yet some inconveniences occurring for want of due care of them, the collection, after about a year, was separated, and each took his books home again
大概在这时候我们社团不再在酒馆里，而是在葛莱丝家里的一间小房间里开会了。那间房间是特别留作这一用途的。因此我提议：既然我们在讨论论文时我们常常要引证我们的书籍，若是把我们的书籍凑起来放在我们聚会的地方，或许可以对我们方便多了。需要的时候我们可以参考。这样，把我们的书籍集中在一个共同的藏书室中，只要我们愿意把它们放在一起，我们每个人就有机会可以利用所有其他会员的书籍了。这样几乎像各人拥有全部书籍一样的有益。大家喜欢这个提议，大家就同意了。这样我们就把我们一时不用的书籍放在房间的一端。书籍的本数并没有像我们预料那样的多。虽然放在一起有很大的便利，因为没有人对这些书籍加以应有的保管，也产生了一些麻烦和不便，所以大约在一年以后，这些书籍又拆散，各人把他的书拿回家去了。
Memo. Thus far was written with the intention express’d in the beginning and therefore contains several little family anecdotes of no importance to others. What follows was written many years after in compliance with the advice contain’d in these letters, and accordingly intended for the public. The affairs of the Revolution occasion’d the interruption.
备注：上面的叙述是按照本文开始时所表达的目的写成的，因此其中包括某些对他人无关紧要的家庭琐事。下半部是在许多年以后，照着在下面几封信里提出的意见写成的，因此原是为公众写的。独立革命的工作使得叙述中断。
And now I set on foot my first project of a public nature, that for a subscription library. I drew up the proposals, got them put into form by our great scrivener, Brockden, and, by the help of my friends in the Junto, procured fifty subscribers of forty shillings each to begin with, and ten shillings a year for fifty years, the term our company was to continue. We afterwards obtain’d a charter, the company being increased to one hundred: this was the mother of all the North American subscription libraries, now so numerous. It is become a great thing itself, and continually increasing. These libraries have improved the general conversation of the Americans, made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries, and perhaps have contributed in some degree to the stand so generally made throughout the colonies in defense of their privileges.
这时候我开始提出了我第一个公共性质的计划，就是建立一个订阅图书馆的计划。我拟定了提案，请我们的大律师勃劳克田把它写成适当的格式，靠着我在“密社”中的朋友们，我们一开始就获得了五十个订阅户，每户在开始时出四十先令，以后在五十年中每年出十先令，五十年就是我们公司存在的期限。以后当订阅人数增加到一百时，我们取得了一张执照。这就是所有北美订阅图书馆的鼻祖，现在它们是如此的普遍了。这种图书馆本身已经成为一种伟大的事业，它的数字在不断地增多，这些图书馆改善了美洲人的日常谈话，使得普通的工人和农民变成像别国大多数绅士那样的聪明，并且或许在某种程度上帮助了在殖民地各地普遍展开的保卫他们自身权利的斗争。
Letter from Mr. Abel James, with Notes of my Life (received in Paris). “MY DEAR AND HONORED FRIEND: I have often been desirous of writing to thee, but could not be reconciled to the thought that the letter might fall into the hands of the British, lest some printer or busy-body should publish some part of the contents, and give our friend pain, and myself censure.
（在巴黎收到）我敬爱的朋友：我常常想写信给您，但是我深怕我的信件会落入英国人的手中，我怕假如印刷商人或好事之徒把信件的部分内容公布出去，会使您痛苦而使我自己受到他人的非难。
“Some time since there fell into my hands, to my great joy, about twenty-three sheets in thy own handwriting, containing an account of the parentage and life of thyself, directed to thy son, ending in the year 1730, with which there were notes, likewise in thy writing; a copy of which I inclose, in hopes it may be a means, if thou continued it up to a later period, that the first and latter part may be put together; and if it is not yet continued, I hope thee will not delay it. Life is uncertain, as the preacher tells us; and what will the world say if kind, humane, and benevolent Ben. Franklin should leave his friends and the world deprived of so pleasing and profitable a work; a work which would be useful and entertaining not only to a few, but to millions? The influence writings under that class have on the minds of youth is very great, and has nowhere appeared to me so plain, as in our public friend’s journals. It almost insensibly leads the youth into the resolution of endeavoring to become as good and eminent as the journalist. Should thine, for instance, when published (and I think it could not fail of it), lead the youth to equal the industry and temperance of thy early youth, what a blessing with that class would such a work be! I know of no character living, nor many of them put together, who has so much in his power as thyself to promote a greater spirit of industry and early attention to business, frugality, and temperance with the American youth. Not that I think the work would have no other merit and use in the world, far from it; but the first is of such vast importance that I know nothing that can equal it.”
不久以前，我非常高兴地获得了您的手稿约二十三张，它是寄给令郎的，其中叙述您的出身以及您的生平，直到一七三○年为止。同时还附有摘录，也是您的手稿。我把摘录誊写了一份，随函奉上。万一您继续写下去的话，这手稿我希望能够帮助您把上下两部分拼凑起来。假如迄今您还没有继续动笔的话，我希望您不要再延搁了。照传教士的说法，人生是变幻莫测的。万一亲切厚道而又仁慈的本杰明·富兰克林一旦与世长辞，致使人世间失去这样一部隽永有味、大有裨益的作品，一部不但对少数人，而且是对千百万人既有用又饶趣味的作品，那么世人将说什么呢？这一类作品对青年思想上的影响是巨大的，在我看来，在我们公众领袖的日记中这种感化力尤其明显。它几乎不知不觉地带引青年决心努力成为一个像作者一样善良和优秀的人。比方说，假如您的传记发表出去（我想它一定会发表），带引青年模仿您早年的勤恳和节制，那么这样一部作品对青年们将是多么的有益呀！在这一代人中，我找不到一个人或是许多人联合起来，能够像您这样地在美国青年中促进勤勉的精神和早期对尽职、俭朴和节制的注意。我并不是说这本自传没有其他的优点和其他在人世间的用处，事实决不是如此；但是这第一个用处是那么的重要，我想不出还有什么东西可与它相提并论的了。
The foregoing letter and the minutes accompanying it being shown to a friend, I received from him the following:
我把上面的这封信和它的附件记录给一个朋友看了以后，我收到他下面这封信。
“My DEAREST SIR: When I had read over your sheets of minutes of the principal incidents of your life, recovered for you by your Quaker acquaintance, I told you I would send you a letter expressing my reasons why I thought it would be useful to complete and publish it as he desired. Various concerns have for some time past prevented this letter being written, and I do not know whether it was worth any expectation; happening to be at leisure, however, at present, I shall by writing, at least interest and instruct myself; but as the terms I am inclined to use may tend to offend a person of your manners, I shall only tell you how I would address any other person, who was as good and as great as yourself, but less diffident. I would say to him, Sir, I solicit the history of your life from the following motives: Your history is so remarkable, that if you do not give it, somebody else will certainly give it; and perhaps so as nearly to do as much harm, as your own management of the thing might do good. It will moreover present a table of the internal circumstances of your country, which will very much tend to invite to it settlers of virtuous and manly minds. And considering the eagerness with which such information is sought by them, and the extent of your reputation, I do not know of a more efficacious advertisement than your biography would give. All that has happened to you is also connected with the detail of the manners and situation of a rising people; and in this respect I do not think that the writings of Caesar and Tacitus can be more interesting to a true judge of human nature and society. But these, sir, are small reasons, in my opinion, compared with the chance which your life will give for the forming of future great men; and in conjunction with your Art of Virtue (which you design to publish) of improving the features of private character, and consequently of aiding all happiness, both public and domestic. The two works I allude to, sir, will in particular give a noble rule and example of self-education. School and other education constantly proceed upon false principles, and show a clumsy apparatus pointed at a false mark; but your apparatus is simple, and the mark a true one; and while parents and young persons are left destitute of other just means of estimating and becoming prepared for a reasonable course in life, your discovery that the thing is in many a man’s private power, will be invaluable! Influence upon the private character, late in life, is not only an influence late in life, but a weak influence. It is in youth that we plant our chief habits and prejudices; it is in youth that we take our party as to profession, pursuits and matrimony. In youth, therefore, the turn is given; in youth the education even of the next generation is given; in youth the private and public character is determined; and the term of life extending but from youth to age, life ought to begin well from youth, and more especially before we take our party as to our principal objects. But your biography will not merely teach self-education, but the education of a wise man; and the wisest man will receive lights and improve his progress, by seeing detailed the conduct of another wise man. And why are weaker men to be deprived of such helps, when we see our race has been blundering on in the dark, almost without a guide in this particular, from the farthest trace of time? Show then, sir, how much is to be done, both to sons and fathers; and invite all wise men to become like yourself, and other men to become wise. When we see how cruel statesmen and warriors can be to the human race, and how absurd distinguished men can be to their acquaintance, it will be instructive to observe the instances multiply of pacific, acquiescing manners; and to find how compatible it is to be great and domestic, enviable and yet good-humored.
当我读完了您的教友会友人替您找到的记载着您一生中主要事迹的笔记以后，我曾经告诉过您我将写给您一封信，说明我的理由，为什么我认为假如您能依照他的要求把它写完并且发表出来，那将是一桩有益的事。过去一些时候因为各种事务羁身，没有功夫写这封信，同时我也不知道究竟这信是否值得对它寄与任何期望。但是目前我碰巧有空，我将把它写出来，至少可以使我自己感到兴趣并且获得教益。但是由于我想用的措辞或许会触犯像您这样的人，所以我将只告诉您，假如我对另外一个像您一样善良和伟大，但是不像您那样谦逊的人写信，我将说什么，我将对他说：先生，我恳请您发表您自传的理由如下：您的一生是如此的出类拔俗，假如您自己不写，别人一定会编写您的传记，与其由别人来写，造成许多危害，不如由您自己来主持有益得多，并且您的自传能够介绍贵国内部的情况，它一定会吸引善良勇敢的人们移居到贵国来。照这些移民对于这种报道的迫切需要而论，就您的声望来讲，我想不出比您的自传更有效的广告了。您的毕生经历也是与一个蒸蒸日上的民族的一切风土人情和情况分不开的。从这个角度看来，我认为您的自传的重要性，对于一个真正研究风土人情和人类社会的学者说来，不亚于凯撒和塔西佗的著作。但是在我看来，先生，这些理由是微不足道的，若是跟您的自传对未来伟大人物的形成，与您打算发表的“道德的艺术”一起对私人道德的改善，因而对公共和家庭幸福的促进可能发生的影响相比的话。上述两部作品，先生，特别会成为自学的崇高法则和典型。学校教育和其他教育制度常常按照不正确的原则进行教学，透露出一套指向着错误目标的笨拙方法。但是您的方法既简单，目标又正确。正当家长们和年轻人因找不到其他恰当的方法而感到彷徨失措，不知道对未来一生中合理的道路方向当如何进行估计和准备时，您发现了主要的东西是许多人的力量所能及的。这一发现是多么珍贵呀！对于一个人后期私人品德的影响，不但是来之过晚，而且效力薄弱。我们是在青年时期形成我们主要的习惯和好恶的，我们是在青年时期选择我们的工作、职业和配偶的。因此，青年时期是一个转捩点。在青年时期甚至形成了下一代的教育。在青年时期决定了一个人的私德和公德。由于人的一生只限于从青年到晚年这一时期，我们就应该好好地从青年时期开始，特别是在我们决定我们的主要目标之前。但是您的自传不仅仅能教人自学，它并且能教人如何成为一个智者。即使最明智的人，在看到了另一个智者一举一动的详细报道以后，也能获得智慧，改进自己的进度。我们看到人类从远古以来，一直在暗中摸索，在这方面几乎连一个指路人也没有，那么为什么智力较软弱的人就应当被剥夺这种帮助呢？因此先生，把当做的事指示给父亲们和儿子们看，帮助一切智者成为像您自己一样的人，也帮助其他人成为明智之士。当我们看到政治家和军人能够对人类变成如何地残酷，著名人士又是能够如何逆情背理地对待自己的朋友时，看到温和顺服的风气的增长；看到伟大和善于治家、令人羡妒的品德和和蔼可亲的作风能够共存于一身，是对人有益的。
Letter from Mr. Benjamin Vaughan. “PARIS, January 31, 1783.
一七八三年一月三十一日，巴黎我最亲爱的先生：
“The little private incidents which you will also have to relate, will have considerable use, as we want, above all things, rules of prudence in ordinary affairs; and it will be curious to see how you have acted in these. It will be so far a sort of key to life, and explain many things that all men ought to have once explained to them, to give, them a chance of becoming wise by foresight. The nearest thing to having experience of one’s own, is to have other people’s affairs brought before us in a shape that is interesting; this is sure to happen from your pen; our affairs and management will have an air of simplicity or importance that will not fail to strike; and I am convinced you have conducted them with as much originality as if you had been conducting discussions in politics or philosophy; and what more worthy of experiments and system (its importance and its errors considered) than human life?
你必然也要叙述那些琐碎的私生活事件，它们也将大有用处，因为我们最需要的是有关日常生活处世接物的准则，因此倒想看看您是怎样处理这些日常事务的。这自传在这些事上将成为一种生活的指南，解释许多人们早就应当有人向他们解释过的问题，使他们能有机会成为远虑明智的人。与亲身经历最相近的是阅读用趣味隽永的风格写成的别人的经历。您的笔调必然会引人入胜。我们的事务和我们对这些事务的处理会使人有一种简单平易之感，或者会令人深刻地认识这种处世之道的重要性。我深信您在叙述这些事情时您是独出心裁，宛如您在主持政治或哲学的讨论一样（假如我们考虑到生命的重要性和生命中的过失），还有什么东西比人生更值得加以试验和规律化呢？
“Some men have been virtuous blindly, others have speculated fantastically, and others have been shrewd to bad purposes; but you, sir, I am sure, will give under your hand, nothing but what is at the same moment, wise, practical and good, your account of yourself (for I suppose the parallel I am drawing for Dr. Franklin, will hold not only in point of character, but of private history) will show that you are ashamed of no origin; a thing the more important, as you prove how little necessary all origin is to happiness, virtue, or greatness. As no end likewise happens without a means, so we shall find, sir, that even you yourself framed a plan by which you became considerable; but at the same time we may see that though the event is flattering, the means are as simple as wisdom could make them; that is, depending upon nature, virtue, thought and habit. Another thing demonstrated will be the propriety of everyman’s waiting for his time for appearing upon the stage of the world. Our sensations being very much fixed to the moment, we are apt to forget that more moments are to follow the first, and consequently that man should arrange his conduct so as to suit the whole of a life. Your attribution appears to have been applied to your life, and the passing moments of it have been enlivened with content and enjoyment instead of being tormented with foolish impatience or regrets. Such a conduct is easy for those who make virtue and themselves in countenance by examples of other truly great men, of whom patience is so often the characteristic. Your Quaker correspondent, sir (for here again I will suppose the subject of my letter resembling Dr. Franklin), praised your frugality, diligence and temperance, which he considered as a pattern for all youth; but it is singular that he should have forgotten your modesty and your disinterestedness, without which you never could have waited for your advancement, or found your situation in the mean time comfortable; which is a strong lesson to show the poverty of glory and the importance of regulating our minds. If this correspondent had known the nature of your reputation as well as I do, he would have said, Your former writings and measures would secure attention to your Biography, and Art of Virtue; and your Biography and Art of Virtue, in return, would secure attention to them. This is an advantage attendant upon a various character, and which brings all that belongs to it into greater play; and it is the more useful, as perhaps more persons are at a loss for the means of improving their minds and characters, than they are for the time or the inclination to do it. But there is one concluding reflection, sir, that will shew the use of your life as a mere piece of biography. This style of writing seems a little gone out of vogue, and yet it is a very useful one; and your specimen of it may be particularly serviceable, as it will make a subject of comparison with the lives of various public cutthroats and intriguers, and with absurd monastic self-tormentors or vain literary triflers. If it encourages more writings of the same kind with your own, and induces more men to spend lives fit to be written, it will be worth all Plutarch’s Lives put together. But being tired of figuring to myself a character of which every feature suits only one man in the world, without giving him the praise of it, I shall end my letter, my dear Dr. Franklin, with a personal application to your proper self. I am earnestly desirous, then, my dear sir, that you should let the world into the traits of your genuine character, as civil broils nay otherwise tend to disguise or traduce it. Considering your great age, the caution of your character, and your peculiar style of thinking, it is not likely that any one besides yourself can be sufficiently master of the facts of your life, or the intentions of your mind. Besides all this, the immense revolution of the present period, will necessarily turn our attention towards the author of it, and when virtuous principles have been pretended in it, it will be highly important to shew that such have really influenced; and, as your own character will be the principal one to receive a scrutiny, it is proper (even for its effects upon your vast and rising country, as well as upon England and upon Europe) that it should stand respectable and eternal. For the furtherance of human happiness, I have always maintained that it is necessary to prove that man is not even at present a vicious and detestable animal; and still more to prove that good management may greatly amend him; and it is for much the same reason, that I am anxious to see the opinion established, that there are fair characters existing among the individuals of the race; for the moment that all men, without exception, shall be conceived abandoned, good people will cease efforts deemed to be hopeless, and perhaps think of taking their share in the scramble of life, or at least of making it comfortable principally for themselves. Take then, my dear sir, this work most speedily into hand: shew yourself good as you are good; temperate as you are temperate; and above all things, prove yourself as one, who from your infancy have loved justice, liberty and concord, in a way that has made it natural and consistent for you to have acted, as we have seen you act in the last seventeen years of your life. Let Englishmen be made not only to respect, but even to love you. When they think well of individuals in your native country, they will go nearer to thinking well of your country; and when your countrymen see themselves well thought of by Englishmen, they will go nearer to thinking well of England. Extend your views even further; do not stop at those who speak the English tongue, but after having settled so many points in nature and politics, think of bettering the whole race of men. As I have not read any part of the life in question, but know only the character that lived it, I write somewhat at hazard. I am sure, however, that the life and the treatise I allude to (on the Art of Virtue) will necessarily fulfil the chief of my expectations; and still more so if you take up the measure of suiting these performances to the several views above stated. Should they even prove unsuccessful in all that a sanguine admirer of yours hopes from them, you will at least have framed pieces to interest the human mind; and whoever gives a feeling of pleasure that is innocent to man, has added so much to the fair side of a life otherwise too much darkened by anxiety and too much injured by pain. In the hope, therefore, that you will listen to the prayer addressed to you in this letter, I beg to subscribe myself, my dearest sir, etc., etc.,
有些人是盲目地善良，有的是异想天开地胡思乱猜，另外还有些人是别有用心地邪恶不纯，但是，先生，我深信您所写的必然是同时又明智、又实用、又善良的东西。您的自传（因为我想我正在描述的这个与富兰克林博士相类似的人，不但在品德方面与您相似，而且在私人经历方面也是一样的）将要表明您不以出身为可耻。这一点尤其显得重要，由于您证明了高贵的出身对于快乐、美德或是伟大是多么的不必要。但是要达到一个目的也不能没有具体的方法，所以我们将看到，先生，连您自己也制订了一个使您成为要人的方案。但是同时我们可以看到，虽然结局是美好的，实现这个计划的手段却是人类智慧所能设想的最简单的手段，那就是：依靠本性、德行、思考和习惯。在自传中证明的另一点是：每人应当等待适当时机登上世界舞台。由于我们的感觉集中在目前，我们往往容易忘记以后还有时日，所以人应当安排他的行动以适应整个一生。您的成功看来当归功于您的一生，您使得您生命中转瞬即逝的片刻充满着知足和快乐因而显得生动活泼，而不是使它因愚蠢的急躁或懊恨而受到折磨，对于那些仿效真正伟大人物而增进自己修养的人，这种做人方法原是容易的，因为忍耐往往就是这些伟人们的特色。您的教友会的通信者，先生（因为这里我又假定我信中的主人翁与富兰克林博士相似），赞扬您的朴实、勤劳和节制，认为足为青年的榜样。但是奇怪的是他竟忘了您的谦逊和大公无私。假如没有这些，您就绝对不可能耐心地等候您发迹的机会，也不可能在其间安贫若饴，处之泰然。这是一个强有力的教训，说明荣誉的虚空和控制我们思想的重要性。假如这位通信者能够像我这样地了解您的声誉的性质，他就会说：您以前所写的论文和您提出的议案会使人注意您的自传和“道德的艺术”。反过来，您的自传和“道德的艺术”会使人注意到您的论文和议案。这就是一个具有多样化的人的优点，这种身份更能充分地利用它所包含的一切。这样您的自传将更加有用，因为不懂得如何改进自己的思想和品德的人或许比没有时间或志趣去从事这种工作的人来得多。但是最后还有一个感想，先生，说明作为一篇传记您的自传有什么用途。自传这一式样现在好像有点不时髦了，但是它是非常有用处的。您的范本也许特别有用，因为它可以用来与许多社会上知名的暴徒和陰谋家的传记比较，也可以用来与那些逆情悖理僧院式的苦行者或是自以为了不起的无聊文人的传记相比。假如您的自传能够鼓励人家写出更多的这类作品，并且诱导人们使他们的处世为人能见得天日写入传记，那么它的价值将不下于普鲁泰克的全部传记合在一起。但是因为我已经厌倦于想象这样的一个人，他的每一特点只能适合于世界上的某一个人，这种特点也不能使我们对他歌颂，我将在结束这封信之前，我亲爱的富兰克林博士：向您本人提出一个私人的恳求。因此，我恳切地希望，我亲爱的先生，您能让世人了解您真实个性的特点，因为否则政治上的争论或许会掩盖或是诋毁您个性的庐山真面目了。考虑到您的高龄，您生性的谨慎小心，和您思考事物的特殊风格，除了您自己以外大概不大可能有人能够对您的一生或是对您的思想动机有充分的了解。除此以外，目前的巨大革命将必然使我们的注意力转向革命的首创者。因为革命既然号称是为了某些道德的原则，那么指出这些原则如何真正地影响了革命，就变成十分重要了。因为您自己的品德将是受到彻查的主要对象，您的品行就应当是（即使是为了对您那巨大的蒸蒸日上的国家和对英国和欧洲的影响）规矩端正，流芳百世。为了增进人类的幸福，我一向以为我们不仅必须证明人类在目前是一种品行恶劣、惹人厌恶的动物，而且更必须证明正确地处理人生可以大大地改变人的本性。为了类似的理由，我很想使大家公认，在人类社会里个别的人还是具有高尚的品德的，因为假如一旦我们认为所有人毫无例外地都是不可救药的，那么善良的人们将会放弃被认为是无用的努力，或许只想到在人世间你抢我夺的纷争中分得一杯羹，或是至少只是主要想到使他们自己舒适而已。那么，我亲爱的先生，赶快动手写吧，显示出您是善良的，因为您确是这样，显示出您是稳健的，因为您确是如此，最要紧的是证明您自己是一个从小就酷爱正义、自由和和谐的人，这种信仰使您自然而然地一贯地像我们在您最近的十七年中看到您的行事一样。但愿您使得英国人不但尊敬您，并且甚至爱慕您。当英国人尊敬贵国个别的国民时，他们也就会逐渐地尊敬贵国了。当贵国人民看到他们自己受到英国人的尊敬时，他们也就会逐渐地看得起英国了。甚至把您的目光放得更远一些，不要局限于说英语的人民。您在解决了关于人性和政治的这么多的问题以后，您就当设法改进全人类了。由于我未曾读过这部自传的任何部分，我只认识自传的主人翁，所以我有点胡言乱语。但是我相信我提及的自传和关于道德的艺术的论文必然会满足我主要的期望。假如您能采纳上述的一些意见，那就更合我的期望了。即使退一步讲，这些作品不能满足您的热烈的赞扬者所寄与的希望，至少您已经写出了两部有趣味的作品。一个人能够给人们一种纯洁的快感，那他就大大地增进了人生的幸福，人的生命本来就有着过多的焦虑和痛苦。因此，我希望您能倾听我在这里提出的恳求，即此等等。
“Signed, BENJ. VAUGHAN.”
“签名，本杰。沃恩。”
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