The Compleated Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1757-1790)

by Benjamin Franklin

  Her good neighbors tried to fill the void as much as they could, but they simply could not. Mme. Le Veillard claimed me every Wednesday, and Mme. Helvétius for Saturdays, and Abbe Morellet played the cello for me at her home. He also wrote pretty songs and sang them sweetly while playing the bass, which I truly enjoyed. But it was not my sweet friend’s music, nor the incomparable violin which had charmed us so often at her home. I wrote her letters, but so disliked writing in French that I would have completely given up doing so if she had understood the American language. She encouraged me by the positive reception she graciously granted my badly written epistles, but I didn’t finish one because I didn’t have the time to check the dictionary in order to correct the masculine and feminine nor a grammar book for the moods and tenses. Sixty years ago, masculine and feminine things (unrelated to moods and tenses) caused me much embarrassment. I used to hope that at the age of eighty, one could be liberated from such things. But there I was, seventy-six years old, and still those French feminines bothered me. This should make me happier to go to heaven where they say that all such distinctions will be abolished.

  FIRE AT THE OPERA HOUSE!

  Being without my good friend and neighbour Madame Brillon, I was deprived of her entertainment, and my grandson Temple and I resorted to an evening at the opera in Paris.108 At the end of the opera, the building suddenly caught fire. We were among the last ones to leave the building. Smoke followed us and by the time we got in the carriage, the entire place was ablaze. Had it happened 15 minutes earlier, I believe pandemonium would have set in, with people hurrying about, and many people from the audience would have been unable to get out. My grandson and I would have died in the flames, as we were sitting high up in the balcony. Had it been so, I would have told my friends in Heaven, “I have died while Madame B was away,” for had she not left Passy, I would not have gone to the opera. It was not known how many people from the house died.

  Later that year, I received a letter from Mr. David Hartley of London suggesting a plan of preventing fire in opera and play-houses, such as the opera hall at the Palais Royal. I wrote the following reply:Passy, Dec. 15, 1781

  My dear friend,

  I received your favour of September 26, containing your very judicious proposition of securing the spectators in the opera and play-houses from the danger of fire. I communicated it where it might be useful. Your concern for the security of life, even the lives of your enemies, does honour to your heart and your humanity. But what are the lives of a few idle haunters of play-houses compared with the many thousands of worthy men and honest industrious families butchered and destroyed by this devilish war! O! that would we could find some happy invention to stop the spreading of the flames, and put an end to so horrid a conflagration! Adieu, I am ever, yours most affectionately,

  B FRANKLIN

  NO SAFETY BUT OUR INDEPENDENCE

  I wished most heartily that the cursed war were at an end, and I despaired of seeing it finish’d in my time, that thirsty nation having not yet drunk enough of our blood.

  We had no safety but in our independence. With that we shall be respected, and become great and happy. Without it we shall be despised, lose all our friends, and then either be cruelly oppressed by a King who hates us and is incapable of forgiving us, or, having all that nation’s enemies for ours, shall sink with it.

  Chapter Eight

  Minister to France, 1781–83

  Peace Treaty with England

  THE GLORIOUS NEWS... GEN. CORNWALLIS CAPITULATES!

  Glorious news! The Duke de Lauzun arrived at Versailles from Virginia with the happy news of the combined force of America and France having forced General Cornwallis to capitulate. The English garrison under Cornwallis marched out of Yorktown on the 19TH of October [1781] and laid down their arms: the troops consisted of about six thousand soldiers and 1,800 Negroes, 22 pair of coulours, and 170 vessels of 150 guns; and a considerable number of transports were burnt. A great and important event!109 Most heartily did I congratulate Mr. Adams and the other commissioners on this glorious news, which could not possibly have made me more happy; it gave infinite pleasure. The infant Hercules in his cradle had now strangled his second serpent, and given hopes that his future history would be answerable. It brought to mind the possible creation of a medal commemorating the ending of the great war: representing the United States by the figure of an infant Hercules in his cradle, strangling two serpents, and representing France by that of Minerva, sitting by as his nurse with her spear and helmet, and her robe speck’d with a few Fleurs-de-lis.

  I received a packet from General Washington, which contained the articles of capitulation. It is a rare circumstance, and scarce to be met with in history, that in one war an army should have been taken prisoners completely and not a man escaping. It is another singular circumstance that an expedition so complex, form’d of armies of different nations and of land and sea forces, should with such perfect concord be assembled from different places by land and water, and form their junction punctually, without the least being retarded by cross accidents of wind or weather, or interruption from the enemy; and that the army which was their object should in the meantime have the goodness to quit a situation from whence it might have escaped, and place itself in another from whence an escape was impossible. No expedition was ever better plann’d or better executed. It made a great addition to the military reputation Gen. Washington had already acquired, and brightened the glory that surrounds his name and that must accompany it to our latest posterity.

  Madame Brillon complained because I had not sent her at once the story of our great victory. “I am sulking,” said she. “What! You capture entire armies in America, you Burgoynize Cornwallis,110 you capture guns, ships, ammunition, men, horses, &c., &c., you take everything from everywhere, and your friends have to learn it from the gazettes. They get drunk on toasts to you, to Washington, to independence, to the King of France, to the Marquis de Lafayette, Rochambault, Chastellux &c., &c., but from you, not a peep!” I wrote to her that I was well aware of the magnitude of our advantage and of its possible good consequences [toward ending the war], but I did not wish to exult over it. Knowing that war is full of changes and uncertainty, in bad fortune I hope for good, and in good I fear bad. I play this game with almost the same equanimity as when I play chess. I never give up a game before it is finished, always hoping to win, or at least get a stalemate; and when I have a good game, I guard against presumption, which is often very damaging and always very dangerous; and when I am presumptuous, I try to conceal it to spare myself shame if my luck changes.111

  MISFORTUNES MAKE PEOPLE WISE

  From the English papers, I learned that the sense of England was fully against the continuation of the American war after Yorktown. They began to weary of the war, and with good reason, having suffered many losses, having four nations of enemies upon their hands, few men to spare, little money left, and very bad heads. The petitions of the cities of London and Bristol were unanimous against it; Lord North muster’d all his force in continuing the war, yet had a majority against him by a margin of 19. It was said there were but two who voted with him, that were not placemen or pensioners; and that even these in their private correspondence condemned the prosecution of the war, and lay it all upon the King’s obstinacy. Misfortunes make people wise, and at present they seemed to be in the way of learning wisdom. We could not, however, be lull’d by these appearances. That nation was changeable. And tho’ somewhat humbled, a little success would make them as insolent as ever. I remembered that when I was a boxing boy, it was allow’d after an adversary said he’d had enough, to give him a rising blow. Let ours be a douser.

  DEMANDS AFTER DEMANDS

  The French Court was highly disposed toward our great victory, and continued friendly toward us. The constant harmony subsisting between the armies of the two nations in America was a circumstance that afforded me infinite pleasure. The French officers who had return’d to France spoke of our people
in the handsomest and kindest manner; and there was a strong desire in many of the young nobility to go over to fight for us: there was no restraining some of them; and several changes among the officers of their army took place in consequence. France is really a generous nation, fond of glory and particularly that of protecting the oppress’d.

  However, I long feared that by our continually worrying the ministry with successive demands for more and more money, we would at length tire out their patience. The “cursed bills,” as Mr. Jay justly termed them, were still coming in quantities drawn on Mr. Jay, Mr. Laurens, and Mr. Adams, and did us infinite prejudice. It was impossible for me to go on with demands after demands. I was never advis’d of the amount of the drafts either upon myself or upon any of the other ministers. The drafts themselves that were directed to me were indeed a justification of my paying them; but I never had any orders to pay those drawn on others, nor did I ever receive a syllable of approbation for having done so. Thus I stood charg’d with vast sums which I disburs’d for the public service without authority. I could not encourage Mr. Jay to accept any more bills. All things considered, if some of them had to go back protested, it was better to refuse Spain than either France or Holland.

  I drew a bill on Congress for a considerable sum to be advanced me in France and paid thereby in provisions for the French troops. My bill was not honour’d! I was in hopes the loan in Holland, being for 10 million Florins, would have made us all easy. It had been long uncertain, but lately compleated: But unfortunately most of it was eaten up by advances in France.

  I had much vexation and perplexity with the affair of our goods in Holland. I had great payments to make for the extravagant and very inconvenient purchases [of goods and shipments] in Holland, together with large acceptances by Mr. Adams of bills drawn on Mr. Laurens and himself; and I had no certainty of providing the money. I had also a quarrel upon my hands with M. de Neufville and others, owners of two vessels hired to carry the goods a Mr. Gillon had contracted to carry in his own ship. We at length recover’d those purchas’d by M. de Neufville; but those purchas’d of Gillon himself were stopp’d for his debts; and tho’ I accepted and paid the bills for the purchase, according to the agreement with him and Col. Laurens, I learned that they were not to be had without paying for them over again. That man [Gillon] should have been immediately call’d to account for his conduct upon arrival in America, but I feared he had gone elsewhere. I had wearied the friendly and generous court with often repeated after-clap demands, occasioned by these un-advis’d (as well as ill-advised) and therefore unexpected drafts, and was asham’d to show my face to the minister. This, among other things, made me quite sick of my Gibeonite office, like that of drawing water for the whole congregation of Israel. But I was happy to learn from our Minister of Finance, Robert Morris, that after the following March no further drafts were to be made on me, or trouble given me by drafts on others.

  LAFAYETTE, A GREAT MAN IN FRANCE

  The Marquis de Lafayette was very serviceable to me in my applications for additional assistance. After the American victory, he had arriv’d back in Paris again, to my great joy, and was received by all ranks with all possible distinction.112 He daily gained in the general esteem and affection, and promised to be a great man. He remained warmly attached to our cause; we were on the most friendly and confidential footing with each other.

  The affair to seek additional aid was sometimes in suspense. The House of Fizeaux & Grand were appointed banker for France by a special commission from the King. At length the minister Vergennes told me we would be aided, but we could not expect it to be in the same proportion as the previous year. He was good enough to inform me we would have six million livres for the year 1782, paid quarterly, of which 1,500,000 livres would be ready for us at the end of March, thus allowing me enough to pay M. Beaumarchais, the interest bills, &c.

  MR. DEANE’S RESENTMENTS AND PASSIONS OVERCAME HIS REASON AND JUDGMENT

  I received a very long political letter from Mr. Deane on the 30TH of March 1782, but the multiplicity of business on my hands made it impossible for me to enter into the voluminous discussions that would have been necessary to answer it fully. My former friend had apparently lost himself entirely after writing a very indiscreet and mischievous letter,113 which was intercepted and printed in New York, and then in the English papers. He and his letters were universally condemned and must ruin him forever in America and France. I thought we should soon hear of his retiring to England, and joining his friend Arnold. He continued, however, to sit croaking at Ghent, chagrin’d, discontented, and dispirited.

  I was not convinced by Mr. Deane’s letter. To me it appeared that his resentments and passions had overcome his reason and judgment; and tho’ my ancient esteem and affection for him induced me to make all the allowances possible since he left France, yet the lengths he went to in endeavouring to discourage and diminish the number of friends of our country and cause in Europe and America, and to encourage our enemies, by those letters, made it impossible for me to say with the same truth and cordiality as formerly that I was his most affectionately.

  ADVICE TO MY GRANDSON BENNY: “LOSS OF TIME IS A LOSS OF LEARNING”

  I also received a letter from my grandson Benny, and was pleased that he had started keeping an account of his expenses. I told him that he would hereafter find it a great advantage if he acquired the habit of doing so, and continued the practice thro’ life. He asked me for a gold watch, but I wrote back, “I cannot afford to give gold watches to children. When you are more of a man, perhaps, if you have behaved well, I may give you one, or something that is better. You should remember that I am at a great expense for your education, to pay for your board and clothing and instruction in learning that may be useful to you when you are grown up, and you should not tease me for expensive things that can be of little service to you.” I also instructed him to learn to write a fair round hand, noting what a progress his brother had made in such writing, considering his age. I sent to London for some copy books of that hand for him, which he could try to imitate. Fair, legible writing is of great importance, and I am always much pleas’d to see my grandchildren improve in it.

  A gentleman of Lyons repeatedly wrote to me proposing to remove a young man by the name of Samuel Cooper Johonnot to a school in his neighborhood. I told him that the proverb says wisely, A rolling stone gathers no moss. In frequent changing of schools much time is lost, before the scholar can be well acquainted with new rules and get into the use of them: And loss of time will be a loss of learning. It was time to think of establishing a character for manly steadiness, which a young man will find of great use in his life.

  IT’S BAD TO HAVE A REPUTATION OF BEING CHARITABLE

  In early 1782, I received the supplication of a certain family, written in grand style: big, beautiful paper, beautiful letters, flattering titles, &c. After having read the first two or three lines of it, “begging the kindness of his Highness,” I threw it on the table, proclaiming, “Always supplications! Always demands of money! It is bad to have the reputation of being charitable. We expose ourselves to a thousand importunities and a good deal of expense as punishment for our pride, nay our vanity, which lets our small benefactions be known, whereas Our Lord has given us the good and political advice to keep our right hand from knowing what our left hand has done.” But when I read the charming epistle of a friend, which I received at the same time, and which mentioned a supplication, I picked it up again, and read it until the end where I found the dear names of the whole family, which I kissed with sincere affection, since the supplication, instead of wanting money, only wanted my friendship.

  EXCHANGING PRISONERS ONCE AGAIN

  Despite the victory at Yorktown, there were still nearly a thousand of our brave fellows prisoners in England, and 200 in Ireland, who were destitute of every necessity, and died daily in numbers. All were committed and charged with high treason. Many had patiently endur’d the hardships of that confinement several ye
ars, resisting every temptation to serve our enemies. The slender supply I was able to afford of a shilling a week to each, for their greater comfort during the winter, amounted weekly to near £50 sterling. An exchange would have made so many of our countrymen happy, adding to our strength and diminishing our expense. But our privateers who cruised in Europe would not be troubled with bringing in their prisoners, so I had none to exchange for them.

  I wrote the following letter to Mr. David Hartley in England, proposing an exchange:I am pleased to see in the votes and parliamentary speeches, and in your public papers, that in mentioning America the word reconciliation is often used. It is a sweet expression. It certainly means more than a mere peace. Will not some voluntary acts of justice and even of kindness on your part have excellent effects toward producing such a reconciliation? You have in England and Ireland twelve hundred of our people prisoners, who have for years bravely suffered all the hardships of that confinement rather than enter into your service to fight against their country. What if you were to begin your measures of reconciliation by setting them at liberty? I know it would procure for you the liberty of an equal number of your people.