the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第34章
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that purpose； and made the constableship a place of profit； and the
constable； for a little drink； often got such ragamuffins about him as a
watch； that respectable housekeepers did not choose to mix with。 Walking
the rounds； too； was often neglected； and most of the nights spent in
tippling。 I thereupon wrote a paper； to be read in Junto； representing these
irregularities； but insisting more particularly on the inequality of this six…
shilling tax of the constables； respecting the circumstances of those who
paid it； since a poor widow housekeeper； all whose property to be guarded
by the watch did not perhaps exceed the value of fifty pounds； paid as
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much as the wealthiest merchant； who had thousands of pounds worth of
goods in his stores。
On the whole； I proposed as a more effectual watch； the hiring of
proper men to serve constantly in that business； and as a more equitable
way of supporting the charge the levying a tax that should be proportion'd
to the property。 This idea； being approv'd by the Junto； was communicated
to the other clubs； but as arising in each of them； and though the plan was
not immediately carried into execution； yet； by preparing the minds of
people for the change； it paved the way for the law obtained a few years
after； when the members of our clubs were grown into more influence。
About this time I wrote a paper （first to be read in Junto； but it was
afterward publish'd） on the different accidents and carelessnesses by
which houses were set on fire； with cautions against them； and means
proposed of avoiding them。 This was much spoken of as a useful piece；
and gave rise to a project； which soon followed it； of forming a company
for the more ready extinguishing of fires； and mutual assistance in
removing and securing the goods when in danger。 Associates in this
scheme were presently found； amounting to thirty。 Our articles of
agreement oblig'd every member to keep always in good order； and fit for
use； a certain number of leather buckets； with strong bags and baskets （for
packing and transporting of goods）； which were to be brought to every fire；
and we agreed to meet once a month and spend a social evening together；
in discoursing and communicating such ideas as occurred to us upon the
subject of fires； as might be useful in our conduct on such occasions。
The utility of this institution soon appeared； and many more desiring
to be admitted than we thought convenient for one company； they were
advised to form another； which was accordingly done； and this went on；
one new company being formed after another； till they became so
numerous as to include most of the inhabitants who were men of property；
and now； at the time of my writing this； tho' upward of fifty years since its
establishment； that which I first formed； called the Union Fire Company；
still subsists and flourishes； tho' the first members are all deceas'd but
myself and one； who is older by a year than I am。 The small fines that
have been paid by members for absence at the monthly meetings have
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been apply'd to the purchase of fire…engines； ladders； fire…hooks； and other
useful implements for each company； so that I question whether there is a
city in the world better provided with the means of putting a stop to
beginning conflagrations； and； in fact； since these institutions； the city has
never lost by fire more than one or two houses at a time； and the flames
have often been extinguished before the house in which they began has
been half consumed。
In 1739 arrived among us from Ireland the Reverend Mr。 Whitefield；
who had made himself remarkable there as an itinerant preacher。 He was
at first permitted to preach in some of our churches； but the clergy； taking
a dislike to him； soon refus'd him their pulpits； and he was oblig'd to
preach in the fields。 The multitudes of all sects and denominations that
attended his sermons were enormous； and it was matter of speculation to
me； who was one of the number； to observe the extraordinary influence of
his oratory on his hearers； and bow much they admir'd and respected him；
notwithstanding his common abuse of them； by assuring them that they
were naturally half beasts and half devils。 It was wonderful to see the
change soon made in the manners of our inhabitants。 From being
thoughtless or indifferent about religion； it seem'd as if all the world were
growing religious； so that one could not walk thro' the town in an evening
without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street。
And it being found inconvenient to assemble in the open air； subject to
its inclemencies； the building of a house to meet in was no sooner propos'd；
and persons appointed to receive contributions； but sufficient sums were
soon receiv'd to procure the ground and erect the building； which was one
hundred feet long and seventy broad； about the size of Westminster Hall；
and the work was carried on with such spirit as to be finished in a much
shorter time than could have been expected。 Both house and ground were
vested in trustees； expressly for the use of any preacher of any religious
persuasion who might desire to say something to the people at
Philadelphia； the design in building not being to accommodate any
particular sect； but the inhabitants in general； so that even if the Mufti of
Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism to
us； he would find a pulpit at his service。
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Mr。 Whitefield； in leaving us； went preaching all the way thro' the
colonies to Georgia。 The settlement of that province had lately been begun；
but； instead of being made with hardy； industrious husbandmen；
accustomed to labor； the only people fit for such an enterprise； it was with
families of broken shop…keepers and other insolvent debtors； many of
indolent and idle habits； taken out of the jails； who； being set down in the
woods； unqualified for clearing land； and unable to endure the hardships
of a new settlement； perished in numbers； leaving many helpless children
unprovided for。 The sight of their miserable situation inspir'd the
benevolent heart of Mr。 Whitefield with the idea of building an Orphan
House there； in which they might be supported and educated。 Returning
northward； he preach'd up this charity； and made large collections； for his
eloquence had a wonderful power over the hearts and purses of his hearers；
of which I myself was an instance。
I did not disapprove of the design； but； as Georgia was then destitute
of materials and workmen； and it was proposed to send them from
Philadelphia at a great expense； I thought it would have been better to
have built the house here； and brought the children to it。 This I ad
