He had many friends and Franklin, fearing his competition, proposed a partnership, which, fortunately for him, Harry rejected. He neglected his business, however, and soon followed Keimer to Barbadoes, taking the printing outfit with him. This left Franklin with but a single rival for the patronage of Philadelphia, Andrew Bradford, who gave more attention to the post office than he did to his printing office and proved therefore not an aggressive competitor. Franklin now began to think of marriage. His landlady interested herself in the matter and what happened may perhaps be best expressed in his own words: "Mrs. Godfrey project'd a Match for me with a relation's Daughter, took opportunities of bringing us often together, till a ferious Courtship on my part enfu'd, the Girl being in herself very deferving. 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 expect'd as much Money with their Daughter as would pay off my remaining Debt for the Printing-Houfe, which I believe was not then above a hundred Pounds. She brought me word they had no fuch fum to spare. I faid they might mortgage their House in the Loan-Office. The answer to this, after fome Days, was that they did not approve the Match; that, on inquiry of Bradford, they had been inform'd the Printing 1 Business was not a profitable one; the Types would foon be worn out, and more want'd; that S. Keimer and D. Harry had fail'd one after the other and I should probably foon follow them; and therefore I was forbidden the Houfe, and the Daughter fhut up." Franklin was in doubt as to whether this action expressed the real sentiments of the young woman's family, or whether it was a device to prompt them to contract a runaway marriage, which would put the family in the position of providing a dowry or not, as they chose. He resolved to give no further consideration to the matter, whereupon Mrs. Godfrey renewed the overtures. He held to his decision and as a result there was a falling out between him and the Godfreys, who removed from the house, which he then decided to retain wholly for his own use. 66 But," says he, "this affair having turn'd my Thoughts to Marriage, I look'd round me and made overtures of Acquaintance in other Places; but foon found that, the Bufiness of a Printer being generally thought a poor One, I was not to expect Money with a Wife, unless with fuch a One as I fhould not otherwise think agreeable." He renewed his acquaintance with Miss Deborah Read and on September 1, 1730, they were married. Of this marriage Franklin said: "She proved a good and faithful helpmate, assisted me much by attending the Shop; we strove together, and have ever mutually endeavor'd to make each other happy." 68 IF CHAP. IX. Publisher and Bookseller. F A Philadelphian in 1728," says James Parton, "had been asked to name the business by which, in Philadelphia, a stranger could make a fortune in twenty years, the business of a printer would have been among the very last to occur to him. There was no good book-store south of Boston, it is true, but also there was no general regard for books south of Boston. Except Mr. James Logan, who had a superb library, and perhaps three or four persons besides, there was no one in Philadelphia who had the true passion for books, until our young printer infused it into them. Franklin, like poets that Wordsworth speaks of, had to create the taste by gratifying which he was to thrive. Almanacs, hymn-books, low-priced books of religious controversy, and very rudimental school-books, were the staple commodities of the Philadelphia book-store in the olden time. It was not safe to publish any book higher than eighteen pence, except by subscription. Of the books published in the Colonies before the Revolution, nine tenths, at least, appear to have been sold at less than eighteen pence. The whole business of printing was trivial, and could be made profitable only by prosecuting successfully a great number of petty projects." Although Franklin and Meredith began to print in 1728, the first issue of their press listed by. Charles R. Hildeburn in his remarkably complete work, "A Century of Printing; The Issues of the Press in Pennsylvania," is "A Modeft Inquiry into the Nature and Neceffity of a Paper Currency, Print'd and Sold at the New Printing Office near the Market, 1729." Seven other publications are ascribed to Franklin and Meredith for that year, two of which do not show their imprint, but are known to be from their press. One pamphlet bearing their imprint was not printed by them. It is entitled "A Touch of the Times," and was written and printed by Keimer as an answer to an article in the "Mercury" which he considered to be aimed at himself, and wrongfully ascribed on the title page to the "New Printing Office." It brought forth the following advertisement in the "Mercury" dated April 24, 1729: THIS HIS may inform thofe that have been induc'd to think otherwise, That the filly Paper, call'd a Touch of the Times, &c. was Wrote, Print'd and Publish'd by Mr. Keimer; and that his putting the words New Printing Office at the Bottom, and inftructing the Hawkers to say it was done there is an Abuse." Franklin's publication of the "Pennsylvania Gazette" began in 1729, and "Poor Richard's Alma Soll ich in diefem Fammerthal GROSS BRITTANIEN PHILADELPHIA. 6. Mey. Von Martha's Vineyard hat man, dafs die vo einiger zeit ailda angekommene Pfaltees, wel che auf ihrer langen reife von Rotterdam fo fibel find behandelt worden, mit Capitain Loyd ace cardiret haben fie hieher zu führen, und werden nunmehro täglich erwartet. Von Engeland wind befeftiget, dafs der Proprictor dielen Frühling noch mer ankommen wers de, auch dafs er alsdann bigends dem Ver gleich mit Mylord Baltimore getroffen, die Linie Lauffeh laffen wolle. Am verwichenen Sonrag nachmittage untes währendem Gottesdienft entstand hier ein heffti ger brand in Mr Badcocks Brad-haufe. Ein je der lief silends aus der Kirchen, und fand fich eine groffe menge Volcks bey dem Feuer, doch konte das Gebda nicht errettet werden, Wene es des nachts ausgebrochen, oder das Waffer nicht eben hoch in dem graben gewefen wäre, felte ein viel geofferer fchade daraus haben können entlehen, weil die Flamme fchon verfcheidene andere Hufer ergriffen. Die Brandfprützen tha ten bey diefer Gelegenheit groffe dienste, und jes derman war willig zu helffen, dergeftakt, dafs das Wohnhaufs noch, wiewohl nicht ohne schaden, ift errettet worden. Nachdem die Friedens und Kriegs-affairen in Europa eine geraume zeit her auf einen sehr wanckelbahren fufs geftanden, und man einige Jahre allezeit in den waffen ftehend denen Frie Zens-handlungen obgelegen, fo hat doch endlich ger König von Grofs Brittanien, durch den ihm beywohnenden Eiffer das befte feine Unterthanen zu bevorderen, die letzte hand ans werck gefchlagen, und durch einen Traftaat, welchen er den 16. Mertz verwichenen Jahres zu Wien mit dem Keyfer gemacher, den Frieden und die Ruhen Europa befeftiger; Zu diefem Trafias ift Spanien und Holland aush getreten: Franck rach allein febeinet darüber fehr unvergnügt Feyn. Und weil der Keyfer und Engeland fich darinnen verpflichtet den Infant von Spanien Don Carlos, els Erb-printz der Hertzogthümer Tof cana al Parma mit 6000 Mann Spanische Trou pep in Italien einzuführen, fo hat diefem zu folge der König von Engeland eine Eiquader un Vergangene Woche hat es fich begeben,daßseis rer dem Admiral Wager nach Barcelona gefchi- ne Frat, welche einige zeit zuvor sehr melancho ket, fichi alda zu der Spanischen Flotte zu fch gewefen, in einem Sloop das Rivier hinab gen und die 6000. Spaniers nach Livomo zu rausportren, welche Introduction auch gluch hch vot fich gegangen, und anlafs gegeben zu einer Anrede des Königs am 13. Jan. an die beyde Häufer des Parloments, welche wir wegen enge des raus auf eine andere Gelegenheit verfpa (en wollen. Londen den 29. Fan. Verwichenen Mittwoch abends um 9 uhr, gab der Graff Bothmar, criter Minifter der Hannoverfchen affairen, in feinem Haufe in S. James Park, nach einer lang gewähr ten unpäßlichkeit, der Zeitlichkeit gute nacht Er hat über 20 Jahr in Engeland gewohnet. Sein Leichnam foll balfamiret, nach Hannoves gebracht und bey, feinen Voreltern zur Erden bettartet werden. Londen den 3. Feb. 'In einem Schreiben von Barcelona wird gemeldet, dafs vor 2 Tageh an die dafigen Intendanter ordre gekommen, eine Armee von 30000: Mun fertig zu halten, und nöthige antara machen, dafs felbige den 5. gefaliren, und die Gelegenheit wahrgenommen, Hier find nachfolgende Schiffe eingelaufen. Preifs folgender Güter. Weitzen der Bufchel a fchi!! 6. pencé. Fein Mehl, der Gentner 8 fch. Mittel Brod 12. fch. gemengt, 10. fch. braun. 9 fch. Rum, ein Gallon 2. fch. 4. p. Melaffes 16. P. BEKENTMACHUNG. Uter rother Kleber-Saamen vor bil Merje nebft aller dazu gehörtgen Artillerie kön- Ger reis zu bekorsmen bey George Fitzwater, ne eingefchiffet werden doch weifs noch niemand worauf dicfes mochte angefehen feyn. in der Marck firafs, Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA Gedruckt bey B. Francklin in der Marck-ftrafs, wọ diefe Zeitungen zu bekommen und Bekandtmachungen zu b fteilen und Fourth page of Franklin's German newspaper. |