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that I only could supply； and apprehending Bradford might engage me and
get the jobb from him； sent me a very civil message； that old friends
should not part for a few words； the effect of sudden passion； and wishing
me to return。 Meredith persuaded me to comply； as it would give more
opportunity for his improvement under my daily instructions； so I return'd；
and we went on more smoothly than for some time before。 The New jersey
jobb was obtain'd； I contriv'd a copperplate press for it； the first that had
been seen in the country； I cut several ornaments and checks for the bills。
We went together to Burlington； where I executed the whole to satisfaction；
and he received so large a sum for the work as to be enabled thereby to
keep his head much longer above water。
At Burlington I made an acquaintance with many principal people of
the province。 Several of them had been appointed by the Assembly a
committee to attend the press； and take care that no more bills were
printed than the law directed。 They were therefore； by turns； constantly
with us； and generally he who attended； brought with him a friend or two
for company。 My mind having been much more improv'd by reading than
Keimer's； I suppose it was for that reason my conversation seem'd to he
more valu'd。 They had me to their houses； introduced me to their friends；
and show'd me much civility； while he； tho' the master； was a little
neglected。 In truth； he was an odd fish； ignorant of common life； fond of
rudely opposing receiv'd opinions； slovenly to extream dirtiness；
enthusiastic in some points of religion； and a little knavish withal。
We continu'd there near three months； and by that time I could reckon
among my acquired friends； Judge Allen； Samuel Bustill； the secretary of
the Province； Isaac Pearson； Joseph Cooper； and several of the Smiths；
members of Assembly； and Isaac Decow； the surveyor…general。 The latter
was a shrewd； sagacious old man； who told me that he began for himself；
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when young； by wheeling clay for the brick…makers； learned to write after
be was of age； carri'd the chain for surveyors； who taught him surveying；
and he had now by his industry； acquir'd a good estate； and says he； 〃I
foresee that you will soon work this man out of business； and make a
fortune in it at Philadelphia。〃 He had not then the least intimation of my
intention to set up there or anywhere。 These friends were afterwards of
great use to me； as I occasionally was to some of them。 They all continued
their regard for me as long as they lived。
Before I enter upon my public appearance in business； it may be well
to let you know the then state of my mind with regard to my principles and
morals； that you may see how far those influenc'd the future events of my
life。 My parents had early given me religious impressions； and brought me
through my childhood piously in the Dissenting way。 But I was scarce
fifteen； when； after doubting by turns of several points； as I found them
disputed in the different books I read； I began to doubt of Revelation itself。
Some books against Deism fell into my hands； they were said to be the
substance of sermons preached at Boyle's Lectures。 It happened that they
wrought an effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them； for
the arguments of the Deists； which were quoted to be refuted； appeared to
me much stronger than the refutations； in short； I soon became a thorough
Deist。 My arguments perverted some others； particularly Collins and
Ralph； but； each of them having afterwards wrong'd me greatly without
the least compunction； and recollecting Keith's conduct towards me （who
was another freethinker）； and my own towards Vernon and Miss Read；
which at times gave me great trouble； I began to suspect that this doctrine；
tho' it might be true； was not very useful。 My London pamphlet； which
had for its motto these lines of Dryden：
〃Whatever is； is right。 Though purblind man Sees but a part o' the
chain； the nearest link： His eyes not carrying to the equal beam； That
poises all above；〃
and from the attributes of God； his infinite wisdom； goodness and
power； concluded that nothing could possibly be wrong in the world； and
that vice and virtue were empty distinctions； no such things existing；
appear'd now not so clever a performance as I once thought it； and I
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doubted whether some error had not insinuated itself unperceiv'd into my
argument； so as to infect all that follow'd； as is common in metaphysical
reasonings。
I grew convinc'd that truth； sincerity and integrity in dealings between
man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life； and I
form'd written resolutions； which still remain in my journal book； to
practice them ever while I lived。 Revelation had indeed no weight with me；
as such； but I entertain'd an opinion that； though certain actions might not
be bad because they were forbidden by it； or good because it commanded
them； yet probably these actions might be forbidden because they were
bad for us； or commanded because they were beneficial to us； in their own
natures； all the circumstances of things considered。 And this persuasion；
with the kind hand of Providence； or some guardian angel； or accidental
favorable circumstances and situations； or all together； preserved me； thro'
this dangerous time of youth； and the hazardous situations I was
sometimes in among strangers； remote from the eye and advice of my
father； without any willful gross immorality or injustice； that might have
been expected from my want of religion。 I say willful； because the
instances I have mentioned had something of necessity in them； from my
youth； inexperience； and the knavery of others。 I had therefore a tolerable
character to begin the world with； I valued it properly； and determin'd to
preserve it。
We had not been long return'd to Philadelphia before the new types
arriv'd from London。 We settled with Keimer； and left him by his consent
before he heard of it。 We found a house to hire near the market； and took it。
To lessen the rent； which was then but twenty…four pounds a year； tho' I
have since known it to let for seventy； we took in Thomas Godfrey； a
glazier； and his family； who were to pay a considerable part of it to us； and
we to board with them。 We had scarce opened our letters and put our press
in order； before George House； an acquaintance of mine； brought a
countryman to us； whom he had met in the street inquiring for a printer。
All our cash was now expended in the variety of particulars we had been
obliged to procure； and this countryman's five shillings； being our first…
fruits； and coming so seasonably； gave me more pleasure than any crown I
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have since earned； and the gratitude I felt toward House has made me
often more ready than perhaps I should otherwise have been to assist
young beginners。
There are croakers in every country； always boding its ruin。 Such a one
then lived in Philadelphia； a person of note； an elderly man； with a wise
look and a very grave manner of speaking； his name was Samuel Mickle。
This gentleman； a stranger to me； stopt one day at my door； and asked me
if I was the young man who had lately opened a new printing…house。
Being answered in the affirmative； he said he was sorry for me； because it
was an expensive undertaking； and the expense would be lost； for
Philadelphia was a sinking place； the people already half…bankrupts； or
near being so； all appearances to the contrary； such as new buildings and
the rise of rents； being to his certain knowledge fallacious； for they were；
in fact； among the things