Benjamin Franklin - Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Considering the remarkable success of this Almanac, end the great celebrity it has attained, particularly the summary of maxims selected from it and published separately under the title of The Way to Wealth, the reader may be curious to see the advertisement of the first number, including the table of contents. It was printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette on the 19th of December, 1732, as follows:

“Just published, for 1733, An Almanac, containing the Lunations, Eclipses, Planets’ Motions and Aspects, Weather, Sun, and Moon’s Rising and Setting, High Water, &c.; besides many pleasant and witty Verses, Jests, and Sayings: Author’s Motive of Writing; Prediction of the Death of his Friend, Mr. Titan Leeds; Bachelor’s Folly; Parson’s Wine and Baker’s Pudding; Short Visits: Kings and Bears; New Fashions; Game for Kisses; Katherine’s Love: Different Sentiments; Signs of a Tempest; Death of a Fisherman; Conjugal Debate; Men and Melons; The Prodigal; Breakfast in Bed; Oyster Lawsuit, &c. By Richard Saunders, Philomat. Printed and Sold by B. Franklin.”

Such was the eagerness with which this Almanac was sought that three editions were printed before the end of January, and, although he enlarged his first editions for the subsequent years, yet two editions were frequently required to supply the demand. In the Almanac for 1789 he makes the following apology for its miscellaneous character :—

“Besides the usual things expected in an Almanac, I hope the professed teachers of mankind will excuse my scattering here and there some instructive hints in matters of morality and religion. And be not thou disturbed, O grave and sober reader, if, among the many serious sentences in my book, thou findest me trifling now and then and talking idly. In all the dishes I have hitherto cooked for thee there is solid meat enough for thy money. There are scraps from the table of wisdom that will, if well digested, yield strong nourishment for the mind. But squeamish stomachs cannot eat without pickles, which, it is true, are good for nothing else, but they provoke an appetite. The vain youth that reads my Almanac for the sake of an idle joke will perhaps meet with a serious reflection that he may ever after be the better for.”

It is believed that a complete series of Poor Richard’s Almanac Is not now in existence. After much research I have not been able to find more than one-third of the numbers that were published.

In 1787 he published a piece in his paper on the Freedom of Speech and of the Press. Again, late in life, he wrote a pointed satirical piece on this subject.

None of these pamphlets have been found Several anonymous tracts on this subject are advertised in the Pennsylvania Gazette, in the months of July, September, aud October. 1735, some of which are probably the same that are here mentioned as having been written by Franklin.

Before this appointment, he had been favoured in regard to the circulation of his newspaper. On the 28th of January, 1785, he says: “By the indulgence of the Honourable Colonel Spotewood, postmaster-general, the printer hereof is allowed to send the Gazettes by the post, postage free, to all parts of the post-road, from Virginia to New England.”

The following advertisement indicates nearly the time at which he assumed the duties of postmaster, and also the degree of speed with which the mail was then conveyed.

October 27th, 1737. —“Notice is hereby given, that the post-office of Philadelphia is now kept at B. Franklin’s, in Market Street; and that Henry Pratt is appointed Riding Postmaster for all the stages between Philadelphia and Newport in Virginia, who sets out about the beginning of each month, and returns in twenty-four days; by whom gentlemen, merchants, and others may have their letters carefully conveyed, and business faithfully transacted, he having given good security for the same to the Honourable Colonel Spotswood, postmaster-general of all his Majesty’s dominions in America.”

Six years afterwards some improvement had taken place in the transmission of the mail. In an advertisement dated April 14th, 1743, he says: “After this week the northern post will set out for New York on Thursdays at three o’clock in the forenoon till Christmas. The southern post sets out next Monday at eight o’clock for Annapolis, and continues going every fortnight during the summer season.” In winter the post between Philadelphia and New York went once a fortnight.

The following characteristic advertisement is contained in the Pennsylvania Gazette for June 23d, 1737 :—“Taken out of a pew in the Church, some months since, a Common Prayer Book, bound in red, gilt, and lettered D. F. [Deborah Franklin] on each cover. The person who took it is desired to open it and read the eighth commandment, and afterwards return it into the same pew again; upon which no further notice will be taken.”

In the early part of his life, Mr. Whitefleld was preaching in an open field, when a drummer happened to be present, who was determined to interrupt his pious business, and rudely beat his drum in a violent manner, in order to drown the preacher’s voice. Mr. Whitefleld spoke very loud, but was not as powerful as the instrument. He therefore called out to the drummer in these words: “Friend, you and I serve the two greatest masters existing but in different callings; you beat up for volunteers for King George, I for the Lord Jesus. In God’s name, then, let us not interrupt each other; the world is wide enough for both; and we may get recruits in abundance.” This speech had such an effect on the drummer that he went away in great good humour, and left the preacher in full possession of the field.

The following notices, selected from Franklin’s newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, show that he was the first, publisher of Whitefleld’s writings: and they also contain some curious facts respecting the success of that eloquent preacher, immediately after his arrival in America :—

November 15th. 1739. —“The Reverend Mr. Whitefleld, having given me copies of his Journals and Sermons, with Leave to print the same, I propose to publish them with all expedition, if I find sufficient encouragement. The Sermons will make two volumes, and the Journals two more; which will be delivered to subscribers at two shillings for each volume bound. Those, therefore, who are inclined to encourage this work, are desired speedily to send in their names to me, that I may take measures accordingly.”

November 29th. —“On Friday last, Mr. Whitefleld arrived here with his friends from New York, where he preached eight times. He has preached twice every day to great crowds, except Tuesday, when he preached at Germantown, from a balcony, to about five thousand people in the street. And last night the crowd was so great to hear his farewell sermon, that the church could not contain one half, whereupon they withdrew to Society Hill, where he preached from a balcony to a multitude, computed at not less than ten thousand people. He left this city to-day.”

December 5th. —“On Thursday last, the Reverend Mr. Whitefield left this city, and was accompanied to Chester by about one hundred and fifty horse, and preached there to about seven thousand people. On Friday he preached twice at Willing’s Town to about five thousand; on Saturday, at Newcastle, to about two thousand five hundred; and the same evening, at Christiana Bridge, to about three thousand; on Sunday, at White Clay Creek, he preached twice, resting about half an hour between the sermons, to about eight thousand, of whom three thousand it is computed came on horseback. It rained most of the time, and yet they stood in the open air.”