Title: Plain Truth, 17 November 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

During the late spring and early summer of 1747 the activity of French and Spanish privateers had been increasing off the Delaware capes, and each week’s newspapers reported some new action. To prevent their learning too much about the river and the defenseless condition of Philadelphia, the Council on July 4 tried to close the Delaware to foreign vessels, even those carrying flags of truce, by forbidding pilots to bring such vessels up the river above Marcus Hook except with special license. This measure was ineffective, however, for New Jersey imposed no similar restriction, and any hostile force might make its own way into the river in small boats. This was clearly demonstrated a few days afterwards when, on July 12, a raiding party of fifteen or twenty armed men from a French privateer actually landed at Edmund Liston’s plantation near Bombay Hook in New Castle County. They seized four slaves, carried off bedding, clothes, and furniture, and forced Liston to lead them to the neighboring plantation of James Hart, whose house they attacked and plundered, wounding Mrs. Hart, and taking a slave and goods to the value of £70. A few days later the same privateer seized the ship Mary off Cape Henlopen; her captain was wounded resisting the boarding party.
The alarming news was brought to Philadelphia by express. Rumors multiplied and spread. The landing party at Bombay Hook, for example, was first reported to have numbered one hundred armed men. Spanish prisoners, Negroes, and other desperate characters were said to be plotting to seize a ship’s boat in the harbor and join the enemy at the mouth of the river; and the city watch was given special instructions to prevent them. The Council debated whether to call the Assembly into special session, but the Speaker successfully discouraged the   proposal. With Governor Thomas on his way to England for his health, the Council could only wish that the Proprietor himself might “come over and undertake the cure.” In this atmosphere of frustration and fear the Assembly convened in its regular session in mid-August.
The President of the Council, Anthony Palmer, told the Assembly urgently that he believed the enemy planned to attack Philadelphia in the spring. “The Terror and Confusion, the Ruin of vast numbers of Families, the Destruction of Trade, the Bloodshed, Cruelty, and other fatal Consequences which must unavoidably attend the plundering or burning this City, are too obvious to need a Description.” The Assembly were unmoved: they approved the Council’s action respecting the Delaware pilots as “a prudent Step,” but thought that nothing practicable could be done to prevent raids like that on Liston’s and expressed the opinion that the enemy’s threats of attack on Philadelphia “rather appear to us as so many Bravados than what they either really intended or had the Power to do.” Palmer’s insistence that Philadelphia was defenseless would not only do nothing to avert danger, but would even increase popular apprehension.
Privateering continued; interference with shipping increased. William Kelly, passenger on the sloop Elizabeth, bound from Providence to Philadelphia, deposed in Philadelphia on September 21 that he had been taken prisoner a month before off the North Carolina coast by a French privateer from Cap François, which had already taken three English prizes and took three more off the Virginia capes, another fifteen leagues from the Delaware capes, and two in Delaware Bay itself. “From the Success which attends our Enemies by Cruizing in our Bay without risque or opposition,” Palmer told the Assembly on October 16, “it may reasonably be expected that they will continue their Depredations in the Spring, and in all likelyhood block up the Trade of this flourishing Colony—a Loss which we apprehend will be sensibly felt by all sorts of People.” But the Assembly remained impervious to appeals and alarms. If any enemy privateers came up the river, they replied, it was the pilots’ fault for bringing them; and as for an attack on Philadelphia, “we hope there is no Danger.”
To all but Quaker pacifists it seemed that something must be done, if not by the Assembly, then by the people. To win over moderate Quakers who, like James Logan, appreciated the obligations of power, Franklin printed in his Gazette of October 22 verses complimentary to Barclay’s Apology and the Quakers (“His works at least shall make me moderate prove,/ And those who practice what he writes, I’ll love.”), and two weeks later the paper contained a short piece arguing that the Quakers’ doctrine was not “absolutely against Defensive War.” Meanwhile he composed and published in pamphlet form on November 17 a strongly worded appeal for voluntary action.
Plain Truth, Franklin remembered in his autobiography, “had a sudden and surprizing Effect.” It was defended, approved, recommended, and explained by citizens, printers, and ministers. He printed 2000 copies; it went into a second edition; it was translated into German; and extracts were reprinted in other colonies. Samuel Smith answered it on behalf of the Quakers, Christopher Saur on behalf of the German pacifists.
Franklin promised in his pamphlet to submit a plan for a volunteer association for defense. This he did on November 21. Approved first at a meeting of tradesmen and mechanics, then by “the principal Gentlemen, Merchants and others” of the city, the Association was signed by more than 500 citizens on November 24. Within a few days the number of signatures exceeded 1000. Things were moving at last. The Mayor and Corporation of Philadelphia appealed to the Proprietor in London for “a Number of large Cannon” for a battery, the Council made a similar request, and Secretary Peters told Thomas Penn that small arms were said to be available at the Tower “for a Trifle.” The city’s merchants petitioned the Admiralty for a man-of-war in Delaware Bay and subscribed £1500 to buy sixteen 28-pounders and some smaller guns in Boston. The Assembly was called into special session on November 23; some 260 citizens, including, it was said, 62 Quakers formerly opposed to even defensive war, petitioned it to protect the city. The Assembly still took no action, and on November 28, in the midst of the crisis, adjourned. Carried along by popular feeling and not knowing what else to do, the Council resolved “to give all due Protection and Encouragement to the Members of the Association, it being the only Method thought on likely to preserve the Lives and Properties of their Fellow-Citizens in case of a Descent.”
Franklin was intimately involved in all aspects of the Association. The volunteers had to be organized—he suggested how. They had to be trained—the New Printing-Office sold manuals of arms and even “good Muskets, all well fitted with Bayonets,” belts and cartouche boxes. To pay for fortifying the approaches to Philadelphia Franklin proposed a lottery, and then had to explain how it worked. He even designed the companies’ standards, decorating them with heraldic devices and sentiments of patriotic defiance. Documents recording these activities are printed below; and there are other reflections of Franklin’s involvement in the Association in his letters to Colden and Logan. A chronological outline may be helpful:

November 17, 1747:
Plain Truth published.

   21:
Franklin addresses meeting at Walton’s schoolhouse.

   23:
The principal gentlemen approve the Association.

   24:
Citizens begin to sign the Association. See below, p. 205.

   December 7:
Franklin addresses Associators at the Court house. See below, p. 225.

5:
Scheme of the Philadelphia Lottery published. See below, p. 220.

   9:
Public Fast Day proclaimed. See below, p. 226.

   January 1, 1748:
Associators reviewed; officers elected.

   7:
Public Fast Day observed.

   February 8:
First drawing of the Lottery.

   March 21:
Meeting of Associator Officers to draft regulations. See below, p. 279.

   August 17:
Cessation of hostilities proclaimed at Philadelphia.

   September 10:
First drawing of the Second Philadelphia Lottery. See below, p. 288.

   May 17, 1749:
Peace proclaimed at Philadelphia.

The Association was not regarded everywhere with approval or even equanimity. Jealous of his proprietary rights and sensitive to his position in the eyes of the British government, Thomas Penn wrote Lynford Lardner that Franklin’s pamphlet had “done much mischief,” adding dryly, “I am sure the people of America are too often ready to act in defiance of the Government they live in, without associating themselves for that purpose.” He considered the popular scheme hasty and ill advised, believed it threatened his interests. “This Association is founded on a Contempt to Government,” he wrote Secretary Richard Peters, “and cannot end in anything but Anarchy and Confusion. The People in general are so fond of what they call Liberty as to fall into Licenciousness, and when they know they may Act … by Orders of their own Substitutes, in a Body, and a Military manner, and independant of this Government, why should they not Act against it.” To establish “a Military Common Wealth”—which he thought the Association was—within the government of the province seemed to Penn “acting a part little less than Treason.” Franklin’s doctrine, he continued in a subsequent letter, “tho very true in it self, that Obedience to Governers is no more due than Protection to the People [see below, p. 199], yet it is not fit to be always in the heads of the Wild unthinking Multitude. … He is a dangerous Man and I should be very Glad he inhabited any other Country, as I believe him of a very uneasy Spirit. However as he is a Sort of Tribune of the People, he must be treated with regard.”

Penn objected particularly to the clause of the Association by which the subscribers bound themselves to obey the laws and regulations of the military council, though the officers received commissions from the Governor’s Council. This, he warned, “is giving the power of the Militia, or calling the People together for their defence, from the King to themselves, and … I fear will be esteemed greatly Criminal.” The military council was in fact “the most dangerous part” of the Association, for it usurped “the King’s power of ordering the Militia, which you know our Kings are very jelous of, and if it should be known to the Ministers, would incline them to look with an Evil Eye over us on all Applications.” It was strange, Penn wrote with irritation, that “people cannot walk in a plain path, but when Men set up for refined polititians everything common plain sence dictates, is beneath their notice.”
Like the members of the Council Secretary Richard Peters had approved the Association; he put it in a good light before the Proprietor, assuring Penn that the Associators’ “Conduct hitherto has been remarkably regular and moderate, without any angry Expressions or blustering behaviour.” Their election of their own officers, he explained, “was look’d upon by the Council only in the nature of a recommendation, the tenor of their Commissions being to receive their Orders from the Governor for the time being according to the rules of war.” Peters even expressed a belief that the Association would promote the proprietary interest by reconciling the Quakers to defense and so save the British Government “the Trouble, and the Quakers the Shame, of an Act of Parliament to incapacitate them from sitting in Assembly.” But Penn’s disapproval, repeated in letter after letter reaching Philadelphia in the spring of 1748, soon changed Peters’ opinions. Writing to Penn on June 16, he viewed it as his master did, as an illegal combination, expressed a strong abhorrence of it, was apprehensive of its leaders’ intentions, and hinted that it would be used to advance the political interests of those hostile to the proprietary party.
But peace was already in prospect; the Association soon dwindled away; and though its leaders, notably Franklin, had won a province-wide fame and influence, they made no use of it in the October elections. “We are well pleased to find that the Association has had so good an Effect,” Penn informed Peters on August 31, “that the persons associated have Commissions in the Common Form, and do not act but by Authority from the president and Council, as well as that they have been so ready to attend their Duty when in Times of danger; their readyness to defend their Country is very commendable, and it was with reluctance that we objected to any thing done by persons that in general might intend nothing more than to defend themselves under their legal Commanders, … We shall ever be wel pleased to encourage preparations for defence, as is our Duty and hope before another War something more regular may be done, and as Peace will very soon be declared that they will become good Friends with those who think differently from them, or at least live quietly with them.”

Plain Truth, &c.
It is said the wise Italians make this proverbial Remark on our Nation, viz. The English Feel, but they do not SEE. That is, they are sensible of Inconveniencies when they are present, but do not take sufficient Care to prevent them: Their natural Courage makes them too little apprehensive of Danger, so that they are   often surpriz’d by it, unprovided of the proper Means of Security. When ’tis too late they are sensible of their Imprudence: After great Fires, they provide Buckets and Engines: After a Pestilence they think of keeping clean their Streets and common Shores: and when a Town has been sack’d by their Enemies, they provide for its Defence, &c. This Kind of After-Wisdom is indeed so common with us, as to occasion the vulgar, tho’ very significant Saying, When the Steed is stolen, you shut the Stable Door.
But the more insensible we generally are of publick Danger, and indifferent when warn’d of it, so much the more freely, openly, and earnestly, ought such as apprehend it, to speak their Sentiments; that if possible, those who seem to sleep, may be awaken’d, to think of some Means of Avoiding or Preventing the Mischief before it be too late.
Believing therefore that ’tis my Duty, I shall honestly speak my Mind in the following Paper.
War, at this Time, rages over a great Part of the known World; our News-Papers are Weekly filled with fresh Accounts of the Destruction it every where occasions. Pennsylvania, indeed, situate in the Center of the Colonies, has hitherto enjoy’d profound Repose; and tho’ our Nation is engag’d in a bloody War, with two great and powerful Kingdoms, yet, defended, in a great Degree, from the French on the one Hand by the Northern Provinces, and from the Spaniards on the other by the Southern, at no small Expence to each, our People have, till lately, slept securely in their Habitations.
There is no British Colony excepting this, but has made some Kind of Provision for its Defence; many of them have therefore never been attempted by an Enemy; and others that were attack’d, have generally defended themselves with Success. The Length and Difficulty of our Bay and River has been thought so effectual a Security to us, that hitherto no Means have been entered into that might discourage an Attempt upon us, or prevent its succeeding.
But whatever Security this might have been while both Country and City were poor, and the Advantage to be expected scarce worth the Hazard of an Attempt, it is now doubted whether we can any longer safely depend upon it. Our Wealth, of late Years much encreas’d, is one strong Temptation, our defenceless State another, to induce an Enemy to attack us; while the Acquaintance they have lately gained with our Bay and River, by Means of the Prisoners and Flags of Truce they have had among us; by Spies which they almost every where maintain, and perhaps from Traitors among ourselves; with the Facility of getting Pilots to conduct them; and the known Absence of Ships of War, during the greatest Part of the Year, from both Virginia and New-York, ever since the War began, render the Appearance of Success to the Enemy far more promising, and therefore highly encrease our Danger.
That our Enemies may have Spies abroad, and some even in these Colonies, will not be made much doubt of, when ’tis considered, that such has been the Practice of all Nations in all Ages, whenever they were engaged, or intended to engage in War. Of this we have an early Example in the Book of Judges (too too [sic] pertinent to our Case, and therefore I must beg leave a little to enlarge upon it) where we are told, Chap. xviii, v. 2, That the Children of Dan sent of their Family five Men from their Coasts to spie out the Land, and search it, saying, Go, search the Land. These Danites it seems were at this Time not very orthodox in their Religion, and their Spies met with a certain idolatrous Priest of their own Persuasion, v. 3, and they said to him, Who brought thee hither! what makest thou in this Place? and what hast thou here? [would to God no such Priests were to be found among us.] And they said unto him, verse 5, Ask Counsel of God, that we may know whether our Way which we go shall be prosperous? And the Priest said unto them, Go in Peace; before the Lord is your Way wherein you go. [Are there no Priests among us, think you, that might, in the like Case, give an Enemy as good Encouragement? ’Tis well known, that we have Numbers of the same Religion with those who of late encouraged the French to invade our Mother-Country.] And they came, Verse 7, to Laish, and saw the People that were therein, how they dwelt CARELESS, after the Manner of the Zidonians, QUIET and SECURE. They thought themselves secure, no doubt; and as they never had been disturbed, vainly imagined they never should. ’Tis not unlikely that some might see the Danger they were exposed to by living in that careless Manner; but that if these publickly expressed their Apprehensions, the rest reproached them as timorous Persons, wanting Courage or Confidence in their Gods, who (they might say) had hitherto protected them. But the Spies, Verse 8, returned, and said to their Countrymen, Verse 9, Arise that we may go up against them; for we have seen the Land, and behold it is very good! And are ye still? Be not slothful to go. Verse 10, When ye go, ye shall come unto a People SECURE; [that is, a People that apprehend no Danger, and therefore have made no Provision against it; great Encouragement this!] and to a large Land, and a Place where there is no Want of any Thing. What could they desire more? Accordingly we find, in the following Verses, that Six hundred Men only, appointed with Weapons of War, undertook the Conquest of this large Land; knowing that 600 Men, armed and disciplined, would be an Over-match perhaps for 60,000, unarmed, undisciplined, and off their Guard. And when they went against it, the idolatrous Priest, Verse 17, with his graven Image, and his Ephod, and his Teraphim, and his molten Image, [Plenty of superstitious Trinkets] joined with them, and, no doubt, gave them all the Intelligence and Assistance in his Power; his Heart, as the Text assures us, being glad, perhaps for Reasons more than one. And now, what was the Fate of poor Laish! The 600 Men being arrived, found, as the Spies had reported, a People QUIET and SECURE, Verse 20, 21. And they smote them with the Edge of the Sword, and burnt the City with Fire; and there was no Deliverer, because it was far from Zidon. Not so far from Zidon, however, as Pennsylvania is from Britain; and yet we are, if possible, more careless than the People of Laish! As the Scriptures are given for our Reproof, Instruction and Warning, may we make a due Use of this Example, before it be too late!
And is our Country, any more than our City, altogether free from Danger? Perhaps not. We have, ’tis true, had a long Peace with the Indians: But it is a long Peace indeed, as well as a long Lane, that has no Ending. The French know the Power and Importance of the Six Nations, and spare no Artifice, Pains or Expence, to gain them to their Interest. By their Priests they have converted many to their Religion, and these

   ‡The Praying Indians.

 have openly espoused their Cause. The rest appear irresolute which Part to take; no Persuasions, tho’ enforced with costly Presents, having yet been able to engage them generally on our Side, tho’ we had numerous Forces on their Borders, ready to second and support them. What then may be expected, now those Forces are, by Orders from the Crown, to be disbanded; when our boasted Expedition is laid aside, thro’ want (as it may appear to them) either of Strength or Courage; when they see that the French, and their Indians, boldly, and with Impunity, ravage the Frontiers of New-York, and scalp the Inhabitants; when those few Indians that engaged with us against the French, are left exposed to their Resentment: When they consider these Things, is there no Danger that, thro’ Disgust at our Usage, joined with Fear of the French Power, and greater Confidence in their Promises and Protection than in ours, they may be wholly gained over by our Enemies, and join in the War against us? If such should be the Case, which God forbid, how soon may the Mischief spread to our Frontier Counties? And what may we expect to be the Consequence, but deserting of Plantations, Ruin, Bloodshed and Confusion!
Perhaps some in the City, Towns and Plantations near the River, may say to themselves, An Indian War on the Frontiers will not affect us; the Enemy will never come near our Habitations; let those concern’d take Care of themselves. And others who live in the Country, when they are told of the Danger the City is in from Attempts by Sea, may say, What is that to us? The Enemy will be satisfied with the Plunder of the Town, and never think it worth his while to visit our Plantations: Let the Town take care of itself. These are not mere Suppositions, for I have heard some talk in this strange Manner. But are these the Sentiments of true Pennsylvanians, of Fellow-Countrymen, or even of Men that have common Sense or Goodness? Is not the whole Province one Body, united by living under the same Laws, and enjoying the same Priviledges? Are not the People of City and Country connected as Relations both by Blood and Marriage, and in Friendships equally dear? Are they not likewise united in Interest, and mutually useful and necessary to each other? When the Feet are wounded, shall the Head say, It is not me; I will not trouble myself to contrive Relief! Or if the Head is in Danger, shall the Hands say, We are not affected, and therefore will lend no Assistance! No. For so would the Body be easily destroyed: But when all Parts join their Endeavours for its Security, it is often preserved. And such should be the Union between the Country and the Town; and such their mutual Endeavours for the Safety of the Whole. When New-England, a distant Colony, involv’d itself in a grievous Debt to reduce Cape-Breton, we freely gave Four Thousand Pounds for their Relief. And at another Time, remembring that Great Britain, still more distant, groan’d under heavy Taxes in Supporting the War, we threw in our Mite to their Assistance, by a free Gift of Three Thousand Pounds: And shall Country and Town join in helping Strangers (as those comparatively are) and yet refuse to assist each other?
But whatever different Opinions we have of our Security in other Respects, our Trade, all seem to agree, is in Danger of being ruin’d in another Year. The great Success of our Enemies, in two different Cruizes this last Summer in our Bay, must give them the greatest Encouragement to repeat more frequently their Visits, the Profit being almost certain, and the Risque next to nothing. Will not the first Effect of this be, an Enhauncing of the Price of all foreign Goods to the Tradesman and Farmer, who use or consume them? For the Rate of Insurance will increase in Proportion to the Hazard of Importing them; and in the same Proportion will the Price of those Goods increase. If the Price of the Tradesman’s Work and the Farmer’s Produce would encrease equally with the Price of foreign Commodities, the Damage would not be so great: But the direct contrary must happen. For the same Hazard, or Rate of Insurance, that raises the Price of what is imported, must be deducted out of, and lower the Price of what is exported. Without this Addition and Deduction, as long as the Enemy cruize at our Capes, and take those Vessels that attempt to go out, as well as those that endeavour to come in, none can afford to trade, and Business must be soon at a Stand. And will not the Consequences be, A discouraging of many of the Vessels that us’d to come from other Places to purchase our Produce, and thereby a Turning of the Trade to Ports that can be entered with less Danger, and capable of furnishing them with the same Commodities, as New-York, &c? A Lessening of Business to every Shopkeeper, together with Multitudes of bad Debts; the high Rate of Goods discouraging the Buyers, and the low Rates of their Labour and Produce rendering them unable to pay for what they had bought: Loss of Employment to the Tradesman, and bad Pay for what little he does: And lastly, Loss of many Inhabitants, who will retire to other Provinces not subject to the like Inconveniencies; whence a Lowering of the Value of Lands, Lots, and Houses.
The Enemy, no doubt, have been told, That the People of Pennsylvania are Quakers, and against all Defence, from a Principle of Conscience; this, tho’ true of a Part, and that a small Part only of the Inhabitants, is commonly said of the Whole; and what may make it look probable to Strangers, is, that in Fact, nothing is done by any Part of the People towards their Defence. But to refuse Defending one’s self or one’s Country, is so unusual a Thing among Mankind, that possibly they may not believe it, till by Experience they find, they can come higher and higher up our River, seize our Vessels, land and plunder our Plantations and Villages, and retire with their Booty unmolested. Will not this confirm the Report, and give them the greatest Encouragement to strike one bold Stroke for the City, and for the whole Plunder of the River?
It is said by some, that the Expence of a Vessel to guard our Trade, would be very heavy, greater than perhaps all the Enemy can be supposed to take from us at Sea would amount to; and that it would be cheaper for the Government to open an Insurance-Office, and pay all Losses. But is this right Reasoning? I think not: For what the Enemy takes is clear Loss to us, and Gain to him; encreasing his Riches and Strength as much as it diminishes ours, so making the Difference double; whereas the Money paid our own Tradesmen for Building and Fitting out a Vessel of Defence, remains in the Country, and circulates among us; what is paid to the Officers and Seamen that navigate her, is also spent ashore, and soon gets into other Hands; the Farmer receives the Money for her Provisions; and on the whole, nothing is clearly lost to the Country but her Wear and Tear, or so much as she sells for at the End of the War less than her first Cost. This Loss, and a trifling one it is, is all the Inconvenience; But how many and how great are the Conveniencies and Advantages! And should the Enemy, thro’ our Supineness and Neglect to provide for the Defence both of our Trade and Country, be encouraged to attempt this City, and after plundering us of our Goods, either burn it, or put it to Ransom; how great would that Loss be! Besides the Confusion, Terror, and Distress, so many Hundreds of Families would be involv’d in!
The Thought of this latter Circumstance so much affects me, that I cannot forbear expatiating somewhat more upon it. You have, my dear Countrymen, and Fellow Citizens, Riches to tempt a considerable Force to unite and attack you, but are under no Ties or Engagements to unite for your Defence. Hence, on the first Alarm, Terror will spread over All; and as no Man can with Certainty depend that another will stand by him, beyond Doubt very many will seek Safety by a speedy Flight. Those that are reputed rich, will flee, thro’ Fear of Torture, to make them produce more than they are able. The Man that has a Wife and Children, will find them hanging on his Neck, beseeching him with Tears to quit the City, and save his Life, to guide and protect them in that Time of general Desolation and Ruin. All will run into Confusion, amidst Cries and Lamentations, and the Hurry and Disorder of Departers, carrying away their Effects. The Few that remain will be unable to resist. Sacking the City will be the first, and Burning it, in all Probability, the last Act of the Enemy. This, I believe, will be the Case, if you have timely Notice. But what must be your Condition, if suddenly surprized, without previous Alarm, perhaps in the Night! Confined to your Houses, you will have nothing to trust to but the Enemy’s Mercy. Your best Fortune will be, to fall under the Power of Commanders of King’s Ships, able to controul the Mariners; and not into the Hands of licentious Privateers. Who can, without the utmost Horror, conceive the Miseries of the Latter! when your Persons, Fortunes, Wives and Daughters, shall be subject to the wanton and unbridled Rage, Rapine and Lust, of Negroes, Molattoes, and others, the vilest and most abandoned of Mankind.

   *By Accounts, the ragged Crew of the Spanish Privateer that plundered Mr. Liston’s, and another Plantation, a little below Newcastle, was composed of such as these. The Honour and Humanity of their Officers may be judg’d of, by the Treatment they gave poor Capt. Brown, whom they took with Martin’s Ship in Returning from their Cruize. Because he bravely defended himself and Vessel longer than they expected, for which every generous Enemy would have esteem’d him, did they, after he had struck and submitted, barbarously stab and murder him, tho’ on his Knees begging Quarter!

 A dreadful Scene! which some may represent as exaggerated. I think it my Duty to warn you: Judge for yourselves.
’Tis true, with very little Notice, the Rich may shift for themselves. The Means of speedy Flight are ready in their Hands; and with some previous Care to lodge Money and Effects in distant and secure Places, tho’ they should lose much, yet enough may be left them, and to spare. But most unhappily circumstanced indeed are we, the middling People, the Tradesmen, Shopkeepers, and Farmers of this Province and City! We cannot all fly with our Families; and if we could, how shall we subsist? No; we and they, and what little we have gained by hard Labour and Industry, must bear the Brunt: The Weight of Contributions, extorted by the Enemy (as it is of Taxes among ourselves) must be surely borne by us. Nor can it be avoided as we stand at present; for tho’ we are numerous, we are quite defenceless, having neither Forts, Arms, Union, nor Discipline. And tho’ it were true, that our Trade might be protected at no great Expence, and our Country and our City easily defended, if proper Measures were but taken; yet who shall take these Measures? Who shall pay that Expence? On whom may we fix our Eyes with the least Expectation that they will do any one Thing for our Security? Should we address that wealthy and powerful Body of People, who have ever since the War governed our Elections, and filled almost every Seat in our Assembly; should we intreat them to consider, if not as Friends, at least as Legislators, that Protection is as truly due from the Government to the People, as Obedience from the People to the Government; and that if on account of their religious Scruples, they themselves could do no Act for our Defence, yet they might retire, relinquish their Power for a Season, quit the Helm to freer Hands during the present Tempest, to Hands chosen by their own Interest too, whose Prudence and Moderation, with regard to them, they might safely confide in; secure, from their own native Strength, of resuming again their present Stations, whenever it shall please them: Should we remind them, that the Publick Money, raised from All, belongs to All; that since they have, for their own Ease, and to secure themselves in the quiet Enjoyment of their Religious Principles (and may they long enjoy them) expended such large Sums to oppose Petitions, and engage favourable Representations of their Conduct, if they themselves could by no Means be free to appropriate any Part of the Publick Money for our Defence; yet it would be no more than Justice to spare us a reasonable Sum for that Purpose, which they might easily give to the King’s Use as heretofore, leaving all the Appropriation to others, who would faithfully apply it as we desired: Should we tell them, that tho’ the Treasury be at present empty, it may soon be filled by the outstanding Publick Debts collected; or at least Credit might be had for such a Sum, on a single Vote of the Assembly: That tho’ they themselves may be resigned and easy under this naked, defenceless State of the Country, it is far otherwise with a very great Part of the People; with us, who can have no Confidence that God will protect those that neglect the Use of rational Means for their Security; nor have any Reason to hope, that our Losses, if we should suffer any, may be made up by Collections in our Favour at Home? Should we conjure them by all the Ties of Neighbourhood, Friendship, Justice and Humanity, to consider these Things; and what Distraction, Misery and Confusion, what Desolation and Distress, may possibly be the Effect of their unseasonable Predominancy and Perseverance; yet all would be in vain: For they have already been by great Numbers of the People petitioned in vain. Our late Governor did for Years sollicit, request, and even threaten them in vain. The Council have since twice remonstrated to them in vain. Their religious Prepossessions are unchangeable, their Obstinacy invincible. Is there then the least Hope remaining, that from that Quarter any Thing should arise for our Security?
And is our Prospect better, if we turn our Eyes to the Strength of the opposite Party, those Great and rich Men, Merchants and others, who are ever railing at Quakers for doing what their Principles seem to require, and what in Charity we ought to believe they think their Duty, but take no one Step themselves for the Publick Safety? They have so much Wealth and Influence, if they would use it, that they might easily, by their Endeavours and Example, raise a military Spirit among us, make us fond, studious of, and expert in Martial Discipline, and effect every Thing that is necessary, under God, for our Protection. But Envy seems to have taken Possession of their Hearts, and to have eaten out and destroyed every generous, noble, Publick-spirited Sentiment. Rage at the Disappointment of their little Schemes for Power, gnaws their Souls, and fills them with such cordial Hatred to their Opponents, that every Proposal, by the Execution of which those may receive Benefit as well as themselves, is rejected with Indignation. What, say they, shall we lay out our Money to protect the Trade of Quakers? Shall we fight to defend Quakers? No; Let the Trade perish, and the City burn; let what will happen, we shall never lift a Finger to prevent it. Yet the Quakers have Conscience to plead for their Resolution not to fight, which these Gentlemen have not: Conscience with you, Gentlemen, is on the other Side of the Question: Conscience enjoins it as a Duty on you (and indeed I think it such on every Man) to defend your Country, your Friends, your aged Parents, your Wives, and helpless Children: And yet you resolve not to perform this Duty, but act contrary to your own Consciences, because the Quakers act according to theirs. ’Till of late I could scarce believe the Story of him who refused to pump in a sinking Ship, because one on board, whom he hated, would be saved by it as well as himself. But such, it seems, is the Unhappiness of human Nature, that our Passions, when violent, often are too hard for the united Force of Reason, Duty and Religion.
Thus unfortunately are we circumstanc’d at this Time, my dear Countrymen and Fellow-Citizens; we, I mean, the middling People, the Farmers, Shopkeepers and Tradesmen of this City and Country. Thro’ the Dissensions of our Leaders, thro’ mistaken Principles of Religion, join’d with a Love of Worldly Power, on the one Hand; thro’ Pride, Envy and implacable Resentment on the other; our Lives, our Families and little Fortunes, dear to us as any Great Man’s can be to him, are to remain continually expos’d to Destruction, from an enterprizing, cruel, now well-inform’d, and by Success encourag’d Enemy. It seems as if Heaven, justly displeas’d at our growing Wickedness, and determin’d to punish
   *When God determined to punish his chosen People, the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, who, tho’ Breakers of his other Laws, were scrupulous Observers of that One which required keeping holy the Sabbath Day; he suffered even the strict Observation of that Command to be their Ruin: For Pompey observing that they then obstinately refused to fight, made a general Assault on that Day, took the Town, and butcher’d them with as little Mercy as he found Resistance. Josephus.
 this once favour’d Land, had suffered our Chiefs to engage in these foolish and mischievous Contentions, for little Posts and paltry Distinctions, that our Hands might be bound up, our Understandings darkned and misled, and every Means of our Security neglected. It seems as if our greatest Men, our Cives nobilissimi
   ‡Conjuravere cives nobilissimi Patriam incendere; Gallorum Gentem, infestissimam nomini Romano, ad Bellum arcessunt. Cat. in Salust.
 of both Parties, had sworn the Ruin of the Country, and invited the French, our most inveterate Enemy, to destroy it. Where then shall we seek for Succour and Protection? The Government we are immediately under denies it to us; and if the Enemy comes, we are far from Zidon, and there is no Deliverer near. Our Case indeed is dangerously bad; but perhaps there is yet a Remedy, if we have but the Prudence and the Spirit to apply it.
If this now flourishing City, and greatly improving Colony, is destroy’d and ruin’d, it will not be for want of Numbers of Inhabitants able to bear Arms in its Defence. ’Tis computed that we have at least (exclusive of the Quakers) 60,000 Fighting Men, acquainted with Fire-Arms, many of them Hunters and Marksmen, hardy and bold. All we want is Order, Discipline, and a few Cannon. At present we are like the separate Filaments of Flax before the Thread is form’d, without Strength because without Connection; but Union would make us strong and even formidable: Tho’ the Great should neither help nor join us; tho’ they should even oppose our Uniting, from some mean Views of their own, yet, if we resolve upon it, and it please God to inspire us with the necessary Prudence and Vigour, it may be effected. Great Numbers of our People are of British Race, and tho’ the fierce fighting Animals of those happy Islands, are said to abate their native Fire and Intrepidity, when removed to a Foreign Clime, yet with the People ’tis not so; Our Neighbours of New-England afford the World a convincing Proof, that Britons, tho’ a Hundred Years transplanted, and to the remotest Part of the Earth, may yet retain, even to the third and fourth Descent, that Zeal for the Publick Good, that military Prowess, and that undaunted Spirit, which has in every Age distinguished their Nation. What Numbers have we likewise of those brave People, whose Fathers in the last Age made so glorious a Stand for our Religion and Liberties, when invaded by a powerful French Army, join’d by Irish Catholicks, under a bigotted Popish King! Let the memorable Siege of Londonderry, and the signal Actions of the Iniskillingers, by which the Heart of that Prince’s Schemes was broken, be perpetual Testimonies of the Courage and Conduct of those noble Warriors! Nor are there wanting amongst us, Thousands of that Warlike Nation, whose Sons have ever since the Time of Caesar maintained the Character he gave their Fathers, of joining the most obstinate Courage to all the other military Virtues. I mean the brave and steady Germans. Numbers of whom have actually borne Arms in the Service of their respective Princes; and if they fought well for their Tyrants and Oppressors, would they refuse to unite with us in Defence of their newly acquired and most precious Liberty and Property? Were this Union form’d, were we once united, thoroughly arm’d and disciplin’d, was every Thing in our Power done for our Security, as far as human Means and Foresight could provide, we might then, with more Propriety, humbly ask the Assistance of Heaven, and a Blessing on our lawful Endeavours. The very Fame of our Strength and Readiness would be a Means of Discouraging our Enemies; for ’tis a wise and true Saying, that One Sword often keeps another in the Scabbard. The Way to secure Peace is to be prepared for War. They that are on their Guard, and appear ready to receive their Adversaries, are in much less Danger of being attack’d, than the supine, secure and negligent. We have yet a Winter before us, which may afford a good and almost sufficient Opportunity for this, if we seize and improve it with a becoming Vigour. And if the Hints contained in this Paper are so happy as to meet with a suitable Disposition of Mind in his Countrymen and Fellow Citizens, the Writer of it will, in a few Days, lay before them a Form of an Association for the Purposes herein mentioned, together with a practicable Scheme for raising the Money necessary for the Defence of our Trade, City, and Country, without laying a Burthen on any Man.
May the God of Wisdom, Strength and Power, the Lord of the Armies of Israel, inspire us with Prudence in this Time of Danger; take away from us all the Seeds of Contention and Division, and unite the Hearts and Counsels of all of us, of whatever Sect or Nation, in one Bond of Peace, Brotherly Love, and generous Publick Spirit; May he give us Strength and Resolution to amend our Lives, and remove from among us every Thing that is displeasing to him; afford us his most gracious Protection, confound the Designs of our Enemies, and give Peace in all our Borders, is the sincere Prayer of
A Tradesman of Philadelphia.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 27 November 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Colden, Cadwallader

Sir
Philada. Nov. 27. 1747
The violent Party Spirit that appears in all the Votes &c. of your Assembly, seems to me extreamly unseasonable as well as unjust, and to threaten Mischief not only to your selves but to your Neighbours. It begins to be plain, that the French may reap great Advantages from your Divisions: God grant they may be as blind to their own Interest, and as negligent of it, as the English are of theirs. It must be inconvenient to you to remove your Family, but more so to you and them, to live under continual Apprehensions and Alarms. I shall be glad to hear you are all in a Place of Safety.

Tho’ Plain Truth bore somewhat hard on both Parties here, it has had the Happiness not to give much Offence to either. It has wonderfully spirited us up to defend our selves and Country, to which End great Numbers are entring into an Association, of which I send you a Copy enclos’d. We are likewise setting on foot a Lottery to raise £3000 for erecting a Battery of Cannon below the City. We have petition’d the Proprietor to send us some from England, and have order’d our Correspondents to send us over a Parcel, if the Application to the Proprietor fails. But lest by any Accident they should miscarry, I am desired to write to you, and desire your Opinion, whether if our Government should apply to Governor Clinton, to borrow a few of your spare Cannon, till we could be supply’d, such Application might probably meet with Success. Pray excuse the Effects of Haste in this Letter. I am, Sir, with the greatest Respect, Your most obliged humble Servant
B Franklin
 Addressed: To  The honble Cadwallader Colden Esq  New York  Free B Franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 November 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Strahan, William

Sir
Philada. Nov. 28. 1747
I received your Favour of June 11. per Capt. Tiffin, with the Books, &c. all in good Order. Mr. Parks, who drew the Bill on Guidart & Sons, is surpriz’d at their Protesting it, they having, as he says, large Effects of his in their Hands: He will speedily renew that Bill. Enclos’d I send you a Bill on Xr. Kilby Esqr, for £19.7.1½ Sterling, which I hope will be readily paid: And you may soon expect other Bills from me for larger Sums. What Books will be wanted for the Shop hereafter, Mr. Hall will write for: I shall send for no more, unless for myself or a Friend. I must desire you to send per first Opportunity the Maps formerly wrote for, viz. Popple’s large One of North America pasted on Rollers; Ditto bound in a Book: and 8 or 10 other Maps of equal Size if to be had; they are for the long Gallery and the Assembly Room in the Statehouse. If none so large are to be got, let Prospects of Cities, Buildings, &c. be pasted round them, to make them as large. I want also Folard’s Polybius, in French; it is 6 Vols. 4to. printed at Paris, and costs about 3 Guineas. My best Respects to good Mrs. Strahan; I know not but in another Year, I may have the Pleasure of seeing you both in London. Please to deliver the Enclos’d to Mr. Acworth: I know not where to direct to him. I am, dear Sir, Your most obliged humble Servant
B Franklin
 Addressed: To  Mr Wm Strahan  Printer in Wine Office Court Fleetstreet  London  Per favr of Mr Wallace in the Widow


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 3 December 1747
From: Logan, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My Friend B. Franklin,
3 December, 1747
I have expected to see thee here for several weeks, according to my son’s information, with Euclid’s title-page printed, and my Mattaire’s Lives of the Stephenses; but it is probable thy thoughts of thy new excellent project have in some measure diverted thee, to which I most heartily wish all possible success; of which, notwithstanding, I have some doubts, partly for want of arms for some of the common people, who may be willing to enlist, and for want of will in many others, as well of the Dutch as of our people, and both these for want of a militia act to compel them. Ever since I have had the power of thinking, I have clearly seen that government without arms is an inconsistency. Our Friends spare no pains to get and accumulate estates, and are yet against defending them, though these very estates are in a great measure the sole cause of their being invaded, as I showed to our Yearly Meeting, last September was six years, in a paper thou then printed. But I request to be informed, as soon as thou hast any leisure, what measures are proposed to furnish small arms, powder, and ball to those in the country; and particularly what measures are taken to defend our river, especially at the Red Bank, on the Jersey side, and on our own, where there ought not to be less than forty guns, from six to twelve pounders. What gunners are to be depended on?
Thy project of a lottery to clear £3,000 is excellent, and I hope it will be speedily filled; nor shall I be wanting. But thou wilt answer all these questions and much more, if thou wilt visit me here, as on First day, to dine with me, and thou wilt exceedingly oblige thy very loving friend,
James Logan


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, 7 December 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Logan, James

Sir,
Monday Noon [December 7, 1747]
I am heartily glad you approve of our proceedings. We shall have arms for the poor in the spring, and a number of battering cannon. The place for the batteries is not yet fixed; but it is generally thought that near Red Bank will be most suitable, as the enemy must there have natural difficulties to struggle with, besides the channel being narrow. The Dutch are as hearty as the English. “Plain Truth” and the “Association” are in their language, and their parsons encourage them. It is proposed to breed gunners by forming an artillery club, to go down weekly to the battery and exercise the great guns. The best engineers against Cape Breton were of such a club, tradesmen and shopkeepers of Boston. I was with them at the Castle at their exercise in 1743.
I have not time to write larger nor to wait on you till next week. In general all goes well, and there is a surprising unanimity in all ranks. Near eight hundred have signed the Association, and more are signing hourly. One company of Dutch is complete. I am with great respect, Sir, &c.
B. Franklin


Title: Address to the Associators, 7 December 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

The Associators—almost 600 in number—assembled with their arms at the court house on December 7 for their first meeting. Secretary Richard Peters, at the order of the President and Council, informed them that their “Proceedings are not disapprov’d by the Government,” and assured them that commissions would be “readily granted” to the officers chosen in accordance with the Association articles. Franklin made proposals for dividing the city into districts and companies and for conducting the forthcoming election of officers, both of which the Associators approved. Among his manuscripts are two sheets—hitherto separated—fragments of his paper read on this occasion.

Gentlemen
[December 7, 1747]
The second Article of the Association we have entred into, is this, That we will before the said Day, that is, before the first Day of January next, form ourselves into Companies consisting of such as are situated most conveniently for meeting together. But as the Manner of forming ourselves into Companies is not particularly express’d, I am now to acquaint you what previous Steps have been taken to that purpose. As the Association was sign’d promiscuously by Persons dwelling in all Parts of the Town, and it was difficult as their Names stood, to sort them into their respective Neighbourhoods, two Inhabitants of each Ward were called together, to consider of the properest Means of dividing the Associators into Companies according to the Article. After some Consideration they agreed to go round their respective Wards, and take down the Names of the Associators of each Ward in separate Lists, by which Lists they might see whether there were a Number of Members in each Ward sufficient to form a Company. When the Lists were brought in, it appear’d that some Wards contain’d Associators more than sufficient for a [missing]
The first Company to the southward, is Dock Ward Company, and contains, &c.
(read em all)
Mulberry Ward being very large is divided into two Companies, and as our German Brethren who are as hearty and as forward as [any of] us, have desired to be by themselves, [one] of those Companies is accordingly German, [and the] other English.
If you approve of these Divisions, Gentlemen, I will deliver Lists of each Company, to some among you who will undertake to call you to[gether wh]en the Time comes for chusing your Officers, w[hich] by the Articles is the first Day of January next. In the mean time, if each Company shall think fit to meet by itself one Evening in a Week or oftner, to improve in the Exercise of Arms, those who have the Lists will look out for and provide convenient Rooms in different Parts of the Town to accommodate the several Companies. By these private Meetings and Exercises, we shall not only improve in the Discipline, but become acquainted with each other, and so be better able to judge, when the Day of Election comes, who among us are fittest to be our Officers.
Tis hoped all will endeavour to have their Arms and Ammunition ready by that Day, according to the Articles, and as our Numbers are daily encreasing, I do not doubt but you will then be able to make a noble Appearance. [Remainder missing.]


Title: Proclamation for a General Fast, 9 December 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

The minutes of the Governor’s Council of December 8, 1747, record that that body, “taking into Consideration the State of the War in general, the Sickness that lately rag’d over this City and the Province, the probability of our Enemies making a Descent on the City, and the Calamitous Situation of our Frontiers,” in order to awaken the inhabitants to “a just Sense of their Condition,” appointed Abraham Taylor and Thomas Hopkinson to draft a suitable proclamation for a general fast. Their draft was submitted the following day, it was read and approved, and the Council ordered that it be engrossed and published on December 10 “forenoon at the Court House with the usual Solemnity.”
In this bare recital Franklin’s name is not mentioned and no suggestion made as to where Taylor and Hopkinson might have turned for a model. Franklin’s autobiography supplies the deficiency. His activity in the Association, he relates, won him the confidence of the members of the Council, and they consulted him in matters of importance to the Association. “Calling in the Aid of Religion, I propos’d to them the Proclaiming a Fast, to promote Reformation, and implore the Blessing of Heaven on our Undertaking. They embrac’d the Motion, but as it was the first Fast ever thought of in the Province, the Secretary had no Precedent from which to draw the Proclamation. My Education in New England, where a Fast is proclaim’d every Year, was here of some Advantage. I drew it in the accustomed Stile, it was translated into German, printed in both Languages and divulg’d thro’ the Province.”

[December 9, 1747]
By the Honourable the President and Council of theProvince of Pennsylvania,A Proclamation For a General Fast.
Forasmuch as it is the Duty of Mankind, on all suitable Occasions, to acknowledge their Dependance on the Divine Being, to give Thanks for the Mercies received, and no less to deprecate his Judgments, and humbly pray for his Protection: And as the Calamities of a bloody War, in which our Nation is now engaged, seem every Year more nearly to approach us, and the Expedition form’d for the Security of these Plantations, hath been laid aside: As the Inhabitants of this Province and City have been sorely visited with mortal Sickness in the Summer past, and there is just Reason to fear, that unless we humble ourselves before the Lord, and amend our Ways, we may be chastised with yet heavier Judgments: We have therefore thought fit, on due Consideration thereof, to appoint Thursday, the seventh Day of January next, to be observed throughout this Province as a Day of Fasting and Prayer; exhorting all, both Ministers and People, to observe the same with becoming Seriousness and Attention, and to join with one Accord in the most humble and fervent Supplications, That Almighty God would mercifully interpose, and still the Rage of War among the Nations, and put a Stop to the Effusion of Christian Blood: That he would preserve and bless our Gracious King, guide his Councils, and give him Victory over his Enemies, to the Establishing a speedy and lasting Peace: That he would bless, prosper and preserve all the British Colonies, and particularly, that he would take this Province under his Protection, confound the Designs and defeat the Attempts of its Enemies, and unite our Hearts, and strengthen our Hands in every Undertaking that may be for the Publick Good, and for our Defence and Security in this Time of Danger: That he would graciously please to bless the succeeding Year with Health, Peace and Plenty, and enable us to make a right Use of his late afflicting Hand, in a sincere and thorough Reformation of our Lives and Manners, to which the Ministers of all religious Societies are desired earnestly to exhort their People. And it is recommended to all Persons to abstain from servile Labour on the said Day.
Given at Philadelphia, under the Great Seal of the said Province, the Ninth Day of December, in the Twenty-first Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George II. by the Grace of God, of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Annoq; Domini, 1747.
Anthony Palmer, President

By Order of the Honourable the President andCouncil, Richard Peters, Secretary.
God Save the King.


Title: The Manner of Drawing a Public Lottery, 22 December 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

This explanation is an integral part of the proposals for a lottery (see above, p. 220). Franklin very likely composed it, though there is no proof that he did.

An Account of the Manner of Drawinga Publick Lottery.
Suppose a Lottery to consist of Ten Thousand Tickets; as the present Philadelphia Lottery does. Before the Tickets are sold, they are numbered from 1 to 10,000, each Ticket having its Number. These Tickets remain in the Hands of the Purchasers, and ’tis by them a Claim is made to the Prizes that shall happen to come up in the Drawing against their respective Numbers.
To prevent any Fraud in altering of Numbers, the Tickets are indented, and other Measures taken.
For the Drawing, two round Boxes, or hollow Wheels, are prepar’d, being about three Foot Diameter, and 6 or 8 Inches deep, each having a little Door near one Side. These Wheels are put on Axeltrees, and hung in the Manner of a Grindstone, so as to be easily turn’d round by a Handle. In one of them are put 10,000 little pieces of Paper, all of a Size, number’d from 1 to 10000, as the sold Tickets were, each Piece having its Number; these are closely roll’d up and ty’d with Thread, each by itself, so that by turning the Wheel many Times round, they may be all mix’d together, and it becomes impossible to know where among them any particular Number lies. In the other Wheel are likewise put 10,000 little Pieces of Paper of equal Size, roll’d up and ty’d in the same Manner each by itself: These are not number’d; but in Two of them (in the Philadelphia Lottery) will be wrote Five Hundred Pounds; in Three of them will be wrote Three Hundred Pounds; in Five of them will be wrote Two Hundred Pounds; in Ten of them will be wrote One Hundred Pounds; in Twenty of them will be wrote Fifty Pounds; in Forty of them, Twenty Five Pounds; in Eighty of them, Fifteen Pounds; in One Hundred of them, Ten Pounds; in Five Hundred and two of them, Five Pounds; and in Two Thousand and Eighty of them, Three Pounds; the rest have nothing wrote in them, but are called the Blanks.
The Cutting, Rolling up, and putting in the Papers into the Boxes or Wheels, is to be done in Publick; Notice being beforehand given of the Day, that any concern’d may be present, and be satisfied that all the Numbers are put into one Wheel, and all the Prizes with the Blanks into the other, as they ought to be. The Managers besides have taken an Oath for the faithful Performance of their Trust, and a Committee of the Corporation are to inspect the Whole. Then the Wheels are shut and seal’d, and lock’d in a strong Chest, having several different Locks, the Keys of which to be kept by different Managers ’till the Day of Drawing.
On that Day the Chest is opened, and the Wheels taken out in publick View, and the Seals taken off. Then the Wheels being whirl’d round, ’till the Company is satisfy’d that the Papers in both Wheels are sufficiently mix’d, a little Boy standing high by the Wheel in View of all, puts his Hand into that Wheel that contains the 10,000 numbered Papers, takes out one of them, and gives it to a Manager, or one of the Corporation Inspectors, who cuts the Thread, opens it, and reads the Number aloud, and hands it to the others, that they may see it has been rightly read. Then another little Boy, standing by the Wheel containing the Blanks and Prizes, puts his Hand into that, and takes out one of the Pieces of Paper, gives it to a Manager, or inspector, who opens it, &c. If it proves a Prize, whatever Prize it is, it belongs to the Number just before drawn; and whoever has the Ticket with that Number, claims the said Prize; if it is a Blank, the Ticket of that Number claims nothing. Sworn Clerks are present, who enter down the Lot of every Number before another is drawn, and the Numbers, with their Lots, are filed together, to prevent any Mistakes, or to rectify such if they should happen to be made. After Drawing a few Tickets, the Wheels are turned again, to keep the Papers continually mixing. And thus the Numbers being in one Wheel, the Lots in the other, all mixed; as ’tis impossible to know what Number one Boy will lay his Hand on and take out of the one, or what Lot the other will take out of the other Wheel, so ’tis impossible to know, ’till drawn, what Fortune any Ticket will have; and in this consists the Fairness of the Lottery.
The first drawn Number claims Fifty Pounds, and the last drawn Number One Hundred Pounds, besides the Prize that may happen to be drawn against them.
As the Drawing cannot be finished in one Day, but will require several; every Evening the Wheels are to be secur’d in the Chest, as aforementioned.


Title: Extracts from the Gazette, 1747
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

Extracts from The Pennsylvania Gazette have been printed for each of the years that Franklin personally conducted his printing office (see above, I, 164). With the establishment of the partnership of Franklin and Hall on January 1, 1748, however, the latter took over the daily oversight of the office, though Franklin, of course, from time to time contributed both original essays and excerpts from private letters containing news of general interest. The extracts for 1747 are, therefore, the last group of unsigned miscellaneous items that will be printed at the end of the year in this work.

Philadelphia, Feb. 3. 1746–7.
To be Lett for Three Years, A Bakehouse, with two ovens, very well situate for carrying on said Trade, being some years standing, and has continual Employ, by loaf bread, bisket baking, and for dinner baking (fixed) fit for any person to go on with said business the first day’s entrance. Likewise to be sold or hired, two bolting-mills and chests, with all necessaries whatever for carrying on the business of loaf bread and bisket baking, with two servant lads time, brought up to said business. Any person inclining to purchase, may enter into said business one month after the day of agreement. For further information, enquire of Benjamin Franklin. [February 3]

	[Advertisement ] A Refiner and Hammerman is wanted for a Forge in the Government of New-York. One who is a good Workman, and can be well recommended, will have good Encouragement. Enquire of the Printer hereof. [February 24]

	   A Gentleman who came from Georgia, informs us, that the Reverend Mr. George Whitefield is safe arrived there. [March 16]

[Advertisement ] Lately imported, and to be sold by B. Franklin, Bibles of various Sizes, from large Folio, down to the smallest Pocket Bibles; Ditto in 2 Vols. Testaments, Common Prayers, Confessions of Faith, large and small, Independent Whig, Willwood’s Glimpse of Glory, Rutherford’s Letters, Brown on Prayer, Ditto’s Christ the Way, &c. Boston’s Fourfold State of Man, Gray’s Works, complete, Willison’s Sacramental Catechism, Flavell’s Husbandry Spiritualized, Shephard’s Sound Believer, Bunyan’s Holy War, Ditto’s Sighs from Hell, Ditto’s Grace Abounding, Practice of Piety, Dilworth’s Spelling-Books, Brown’s Ditto, Play-Book for Children, Vincent on Judgment, Dyer’s Golden Chain, Life of Monsieur De Renty; Cocker’s Arithmetick, &c. &c. Also most Sorts of School Books, Latin, French and Dutch. Likewise Navigation Books.
With Psalters, Primmers, Paper, Sealing Wax, Ink-powder, and all Sorts of Stationary Ware. [April 9]

Philadelphia, May 7. 1747.
Deserted from Captain John Diemer’s company of foot, now lying at Albany, the following men, viz. [Here follow 17 names.]
Whoever takes up and secures any of the said deserters, and gives information to the Subscriber, at the Post-Office, Philadelphia, or to the said Capt. Diemer, so that they may be brought to his company, shall have Three Pounds reward for each.W. Franklin[May 7]

Philadelphia, May 21. 1747.
Strayed from off the commons of Philadelphia, a white horse, low in flesh, long sided, long switch tail, pretty well set, of middling heighth, unshod, is a cart horse, and has a heavy, lubberly trott. Whoever finds him, and brings him to the printer hereof, shall have Ten Shillings reward, when, by his directions, deliver’d to the owner in Philadelphia. [May 21]

	   Friday last the Reverend Mr. Whitefield came to Town, and preached twice on Sunday, and once on Monday, at the New-Building. [June 4]

	   Monday last, in the Afternoon, the Governor, with his Lady and Daughter, embarked for London, on board the Greyhound, Capt. Budden: They were respectfully attended to the Wharff by the Corporation, the Grand Jury, and the principal Gentlemen and Ladies of the City. [June 4]

Philadelphia, June 4. 1747.
Whoever will discover to the printer hereof any effects belonging, or debts due, to the estate of Captain John Spence, late a merchant in this city, deceased, shall receive Twenty per Cent. or a fifth part of such effects and debts, immediately on the recovery thereof. [June 4]

Philadelphia, June 18. 1747.
Lost between Germantown and Philadelphia, the 8th instant, a silver watch, the maker’s name Tomlinson, London; with two seals, one silver, with a coat of arms; the other bathmetal, with glass faces, a crown on one side, and King William’s and Queen Mary’s heads in one on the other. Whoever brings it to the printer hereof, shall have Forty Shillings reward. [June 18]

	   We hear that several People have died suddenly within these few Days, by drinking cold Water too greedily while they were hot. [July 9]

Philadelphia, July 8. 1747.
Lost last night, a large pair of plain Silver Buckles, mark’d GPY. Whoever brings them to the printer hereof, shall receive Ten Shillings reward, and no questions ask’d. Silversmiths and others are desired to take notice of this Advertisement, and stop them if offer’d to sale. [July 9]

Philadelphia, August 6. 1747.
Stolen or stray’d last Night, out of B. Franklin’s pasture, near this city, a likely young sorrel Horse, about 14 hands high, with silver Mane and Tail, four white feet, a blaze in his face, no brand, a large belly, and is in good case, paces well, but trots sometimes, very small ears, and is shod all round. Also a small bay horse, without shoes, low in flesh, long dark tail and mane. Whoever brings them to the subscriber, shall have Forty Shillings reward for the first, and Ten Shillings for the other: If stolen, and the thief detected, so that he may be brought to justice, Five Pounds, with reasonable charges, paid by B. Franklin[August 6]

[Advertisement ] Just imported, and sold by B. Franklin, The Circle of the Sciences, &c. In Three Volumes.
Vol. I. An easy Introduction to the English Language; or, a pretty Spelling-book for little Masters and Misses.
Vol. II. An easy Introduction to the English Language; or, a Compendious Grammar for the Use of Young Gentlemen, Ladies, and Foreigners.
Vol. III. An easy Spelling-Dictionary of the English Language, on a new Plan; for the Use of Young Gentlemen, Ladies, and Foreigners.
Also The Child’s Guide to Polite Learning; or a natural, plain and easy Spelling-Book and Grammar of the English Tongue. By Way of Question and Answer; To which is prefixed, A short Historical Account of Language in general, for the Perusal of such as are more advanc’d in Years.
Likewise the following Books for Children. Tom Thumb’s Play-Book. Tommy Thumb’s Song-Book. A Christmass-Box for Masters and Misses. The Trifle or gilded Toy, To humour every Girl and Boy. The Child’s New-Years-Gift, or a Collection of chaste and significant Riddles. Nancy Cock’s Riddle Book: With Proverbial Precepts on Education. Nancy Cock’s Song-Book, for all little Misses and Masters. The Child’s Entertainer: Being a New Collection of Riddles, upon the most familiar Subjects. The Child’s Delight; or little Master and Misses instructive and diverting Companion. The Child’s New Play-Thing: Being a Spelling-Book intended to make the Learning to Read, a Diversion instead of a Task, &c. &c. [September 3]

Philadelphia, Sept. 3. 1747.
John Murphy having declined riding post to Maryland, gives notice, that he is ready to serve gentlemen as a messenger or express to any part of this or the neighbouring provinces; for which purpose he keeps good horses in readiness, and will perform what he undertakes with the utmost diligence and dispatch, giving security for his honesty, where required.
N.B. Said Murphy has lost a light-colour’d great-coat with the cape patched; the person that has found it, is desired to bring it to him at the Seven Stars, in Elbow lane, and they shall have Five shillings reward. [September 3]

	   The same Day [Monday, September 14] the Rev. Mr. Whitefield set out from this Place for Maryland, in his Way to Georgia: During his Stay here, he preached frequently at the New-Building to very large and attentive Auditories. [September 17]

Monday next will be published, and sold by B. Franklin, Poor Richard Improved; And Half as big again as heretofore: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris of the Motions of the Sun and Moon; the true Places and Aspects of the Planets; the Rising and Setting of the Sun; and the Rising, Setting and Southing, of the Moon, for the Bissextile Year 1748. Containing also, The Lunations, Conjunctions, Eclipses, Judgment of the Weather, rising and setting of the Planets, Length of Days and Nights, Fairs, Courts, Roads, &c. Together with useful Tables, Chronological Observations, and entertaining Remarks. Fitted to the Latitude of Forty Degrees, and a Meridian of near five Hours West from London; but may, without sensible Error, serve all the Northern Colonies.
Containing moreover, Verses on the Death of Jacob Taylor. Particular Account of the Winter in Hudson’s Bay. Table of Interest. Luke’s Dying Request. Great and small Robbers. The Systems compared. Faith and Reason. A good Rule for Preserving Health. Three great Destroyers, Plague, Famine and Hero. Heathens dying. Poetical Strokes on Sir Isaac Newton. Education. Life, wherein it consists. Oliver Cromwell, Richard, and Julius Cesar. Fight at Lahogue. Verses on Warren, Anson and Boscawen. Use of Reading. What is the Chief Female Charm. A Philosophic Thought. Remark on Addison’s Death and Writings. A spinning Empress. The true Hero, who. Remarks of Strada, a Spanish Historian, and the Duke of Parma. The good Wife. Difficulty of driving black Hogs in the Dark. Battle of Hochstet. Muskitoes, useful Remarks on them. Art of succeeding in Conversation. The amiable Doctress. Vigo. Observations on the Birth-day of the Founder of this Province. The Man of Taste. On Sir Walter Raleigh. English explained by Greek. Locke, the famous John, Esq; Of Parties. Benefits of Winter. The good Husband. Account of Niagara Falls, the greatest Cataract in the World. Story of the Emperor’s Daughter, &c. &c. &c. With many other Matters (useful and entertaining) too many to mention here.
Jacob Taylor’s Testimony in Favour of Poor Richard’s Almanack.

They have a Right to write who understand
The Skill profest, the Theme they have in Hand;
All useful Arts in true Professors shine,
And just Applause, Poor Richard, shall be thine;
For equal Justice must return thy Due,
Thy Words good Sense, thy Numbers pure and true.

Vide Taylor’s Almanack, 1745.
Where likewise may be had, just published, Moore’s American Country Almanack, For the Year 1748. [September 17]

	   [Advertisement] If Timothy Wastle, barber, of Barnard castle, in the county of Durham, Old England, will come to the Post-office, Philadelphia, he will hear of something to his advantage. [September 24]

	   Just published, and to be sold by the Printer hereof, The Pocket Almanack, For the Year 1748. Of whom may be also had, The Votes of the last Sessions of the Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania. [November 5]

Philadelphia, November 5. 1747.
All Persons indebted to the Printer hereof for a Year’s Gazette, or more, are desired to pay. [November 5]

Philadelphia, November 5. 1747.
Lent some time ago, but forgot to whom, by Thomas Godfrey, of this city, Gravesend, 2 vols. Newton’s Opticks, and a pair of round pliers: And left some where a Quarto blue paper book, containing about two sheets, having in one end of it Doctor Hally’s Numbers and Radixes of the Planets; at the other end, a collection of about 100 observations of the Moon from Flamsted. Whoever has any of the above, is desired to return them. [November 5]

	   Last night came to Town some Indians from Ohio, a Branch of the Missisippi, all Warriors, and among them one Captain, on a Visit to this Government, about some particular Affairs relating to the War betwixt the English and French in those Parts. [November 12]

	   The Indians from Ohio, now here, who are Deputies from a mix’d Body of Indians, collected from all the neighbouring Nations, and consisting of about 500 fighting Men, settled near the Head of that River, and the South Side of Lake Erie, have acquainted the Government, that the French did last Spring send them a Hatchet with Presents, as an Invitation to join in the War against the English; that to prevent any of their People accepting of the same, they immediately declared War against the French, and had already commenced Hostilities: To keep them firm in their Friendship to the English, a considerable Sum is now given them in Goods, and a Quantity likewise sent by them to a small neighbouring Nation in Alliance with them. [November 19]

	   Last Saturday Evening a great Number of the Inhabitants of this City met at Mr. Walton’s School-House in Arch-street, when a Form of an Association for our common Security and Defence against the Enemy was consider’d and agreed to. On Monday following, the same was laid before a great Meeting of the principal Gentlemen, Merchants and others, at Roberts’s Coffee-House, where after due Deliberation, it was unanimously approv’d of, and another Meeting appointed to be the next Day following at the New-Building, in Order to begin Signing. Accordingly on Tuesday Evening upwards of Five Hundred Men of all Ranks subscribed their Names; and as the Subscription is still going on briskly in all Parts of the Town, ’tis not doubted but that in a few Days the Number will exceed a Thousand, in this City only, exclusive of the neighbouring Towns and Country. ’Tis hop’d the same laudable Spirit will spread itself throughout the Province; it being certain that we have Numbers more than sufficient, to defeat (with the Blessing of God) any Enterprize our Enemies can be suppos’d to form against us: All we wanted was Union and Discipline. The Form of the Association will be printed in our next; as also the Scheme of a Lottery for raising a Sum of Money for the general Service. [November 26]

	   The Scheme of the Lottery for raising a Sum of money for the Publick Service, will be published on Saturday next, and may be had gratis on calling for [it] at the Post-Office. [December 3]

Philadelphia, November 12. 1747.
This is to give Notice, That George Heap, in Third-street, between Arch-street and Market-street, makes Cartouch-boxes, Sword Belts and Scabbards, after the best and neatest manner. [December 3]

On Monday Afternoon a great Body of the Associators met with their Arms at the State-House, and from thence marched down to the Court-House, in Market-Street, where they agreed to the proposed Divisions of the City into Companies. His Honour the President, and several of the Gentlemen of the Council being present, the Secretary, by Order, acquainted the Associators, That their Proceedings were not disapproved by the Government; and that the Officers they should chuse, in Pursuance of their Articles, would readily obtain Commissions. ’Tis not doubted but on the first of January, the Day of Election, there will be a very full Appearance of the Associated in this City, all Hands being busy in providing Arms, putting them in Order, and improving themselves in military Discipline.

And Yesterday the Reverend Mr. Jenny preach’d an excellent Sermon on the Lawfulness of Self-Defence, and of Associating for that Purpose, to a very considerable Auditory; in the Church of England. [December 12]

Philadelphia, December 10. 1747.
[Advertisement] Dropt from a watch, last Wednesday se’nnight, a red Cornelian seal, set in gold, with part of a steel chain, on which it hung, the impression [of] a Homer’s head. Whoever brings it to the printer hereof, shall have 5 shillings reward. [December 12]

	   ⁂The Northern Post begins his Fortnight’s Stage this Afternoon at Three o’Clock, during which Time this Paper will be published on Tuesdays. [December 15]

Philadelphia, December 22. 1747.
Tickets in the Philadelphia Lottery, are sold by William Allen, Joshua Maddox, William Masters, Samuel M’Call, senior, Edward Shippen, Thomas Leech, Charles Willing, John Kearsley, William Clymer, senior, Thomas Lawrence, junior, William Coleman, and Thomas Hopkinson, at their respective Dwellings; and by B. Franklin, at the Post-Office. [December 22]

	   Thursday last the Reverend Mr. Gilbert Tennent preached an excellent Sermon in the New-Building, on the Lawfulness of War, and on the Usefulness of the Association, into which great Numbers of the Inhabitants of this Province have lately enter’d, and are still entering. [December 29]

Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin, Post-Master, at the New-Printing-Office, near the Market.