gave up printing and became the clerk of Mr. Denham. He liked Mr. Denham and the clerkship, and never expected to return to his old calling. If Mr. Denham had lived, Franklin might have become a renowned Philadelphia merchant and financier, like Robert Morris, an owner of ships and cargoes, a trader to India and China, and an outfitter of privateers. But this sudden change from the long line of his ancestry was not to be. Nature, as if indignant at the attempt, struck down both Denham and himself with pleurisy within six months of their association in business. Denham perished, and Franklin, after a narrow escape from death, went back reluctantly to set type for Keimer.

He was now twenty-one, a good workman, with experience on two continents, and Keimer made him foreman of his printing-office. Within six

months, however, his connection with Keimer was ended by a quarrel, and one of the workmen, Hugh Meredith, suggested that he and Franklin should set up in the printing business for themselves, Meredith to furnish the money through his father, and Franklin to furnish the skill. This offer was eagerly accepted; but as some months would be required to obtain type and materials from London, Franklin's quarrel with Keimer was patched up and he went back to work for him.

In the spring of 1728 the type arrived. Franklin parted from Keimer in peace, and then with Meredith sprung upon him the surprise of a rival printing establishment. They rented a house for twenty-four pounds a year, and to help pay it took

in Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Godfrey as lodgers. But their money was all spent in getting started, and they had a hard struggle. Their first work was a translation of a Dutch history of the Quakers. Franklin worked late and early. People saw him still employed as they went home from their clubs late at night, and he was at it again in the morning before his neighbors were out of bed.

There were already two other printing-offices, Keimer's and Bradford's, and hardly enough work for them. The town prophesied failure for the firm of Franklin & Meredith; and, indeed, their only hope of success seemed to be in destroying one or both of their rivals, a serious undertaking for two young men working on borrowed capital. There was so little to be made in printing at that time that most of the printers were obliged to branch out into journalism and to keep stationery stores. Franklin resolved to start a newspaper, but, unfortunately, told his secret to one of Keimer's workmen, and Keimer, to be beforehand, immediately started a newspaper of his own, called The Universal Instructor in all Arts and Sciences and the Pennsylvania Gazette.

Franklin was much disgusted, and in resentment, as he tells us, and to counteract Keimer, began writing amusing letters for the other newspaper of the town, Bradford's Mercury. His idea was to crush Keimer's paper by building up Bradford's until he could have one of his own. His articles, which were signed "Busy Body," show the same talent for humor that he had displayed in Boston a

THE

Pennsylvania GAZETTE.

Containing the fresheft Advices Foreign and Domestick.

From Thursday, September 25. to Thursday, October 2. 1729.

defign to proceed in.

There are many who have long defired to fee a good News-Paper in Pennfylvania; and we hope

wards the making This fuch. We ask Affiftance, Upon a View of Chambers's great Dictionaries, because we are fully fenfible, that to publife a from whence were taken the Materials of the good News-Paper is not fo eafy an Undertaking Universal Inftructor in all Arts and Sciences, as many People imagine it to be. The Author of which usually made the Firft Part of this Paper, a Gazette (in the Opinion of the Learned) ought we find that befides their containing many Things to be qualified with an extenfive Acquaintance abftrufe or infignificant to us, it will probably with Languages, a great Eafinefs and Command be fifty Years before the Whole can be gone thro' of Writing and Relating Things cleanly and inin this Manner of Publication. There are like- telligibly, and in few Words; be should be able wife in thofe Books continual References from to speak of War both by Land and Sea; be well Things under one Letter of the Alphabet to thofe acquainted with Geography, with the History of under another, which relate to the fame Subject, the Time, with the feveral Interefts of Princes, and are necessary to explain and compleat it; and States, the Secrets of Courts, and the Man thefe taken in their Turn may perhaps be Tenners and Cuftoms of all Nations. Men thus acYears diftant; and fince it is likely that they who defire to acquaint themselves with any particular Art or Science, would gladly bave the whole before them in a much less Time, we believe our Readers will not think fuch a Method of communicating Knowledge to be a proper One.

However, tho' we do not intend to continue the Publication of those Dictionaries in a regular Alphabetical Method, as has hitherto been done; yet as feveral Things exhibited from them in the Course of thefe Papers, have been entertaining to fuck of the Curious, who never had and cannot have the Advantage of good Libraries; and as there are many Things ftill behind, which being in this Manner made generally known, may perhaps become of confiderable Ufe, by giving fuch Hints to the excellent natural Genius's of our Country, as may contribute either to the Improvement of our prefent Manufactures, or towards the Invention of new Ones; we propofe from Time to Time to communicate fuch particular Parts as appear to be of the most general Confequence.

As to the Religious Courtship, Part of which has been retal'd to the Publick in thefe Papers, the Reader may be inform'd, that the whole Book will probably in a little Time be printed and bound up by it felf; and those who approve of it, will doubtless be better pleas'd to bave it entire, than in this broken interrupted Manuer.

complib'd are very rare in this remote Part of the World; and it would be well if the Writer of thefe Papers could make up among bis Friends what is wanting in himself.

Upon the Whole, we may affure the Publick, that as far as the Encouragement we meet with will enable us, no Care and Pains shall be omitted, that may make the Pennfylvania Gazette as agreeable and useful an Entertainment as the Nature of the Thing will allow.

The Following is the last Meffage fent by his Excellency Governour Burnet, to the House of Reprefentatives in Boston.

Gentlemen of the House of Reprefentatives,

IT is not with fo vair a Hope as to convince you, that I take the Trouble to answer your Meffages, but, if poffible, to open the Eyes of the deluded People whom you reprefent, and whom you are at fo much Pains to keep go further for an undeniable Proof of this Endeavour to in Ignorance of the true State of their Affairs. I need not blind them, than your ordering the Letter of Meffieurs Wilks and Belcher of the 7th of June laft to your Speaker to Vores) to inclose a Copy of the Report of the Lords of the Comhe published. This Letter faid (in Page 1 of your mitee of His Majefty's Privy Council, with his Majefty's Ap probation and Order thereon in Council, Yet thefe Gentlemen had at the fame time the unparallell'd Prefumption to write to the Speaker in this Manner; You'll obferve by the plying with His Majesty's Inftruction (the cuiole Matter to by Corclufion, subat is propofed to be the Confequence of your not com

laid

FRONT PAGE OF THE FIRST NUMBER OF THE "PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE," PUBLISHED BY FRANKLIN AND MEREDITH

few years before, when he wrote for his brother's newspaper over the name "Silence Dogood;" but there is a great difference in their tone. No ridicule of the prevailing religion or hatred of those in authority appears in them. The young man evidently found Philadelphia more to his taste than Boston, and was not at war with his surroundings. The "Busy Body" papers are merely pleasant raillery at the failings of human nature in general, interspersed with good advice, something like that which he soon afterwards gave in "Poor Richard.”

Keimer tried to keep his journal going by publishing long extracts from an encyclopædia which had recently appeared, beginning with the letter A, and he tried to imitate the wit of the "Busy Body." But he merely laid himself open to the "Busy Body's" attacks, who burlesqued and ridiculed his attempts, and Franklin in his Autobiography gives himself the credit of having drawn public attention so strongly to Bradford's Mercury that Keimer, after keeping his Universal Instructor going on only ninety subscribers for about nine months, gave it up. Franklin & Meredith bought it in and thus disposed of one of their rivals. That rival, being incompetent and ignorant, soon disposed of himself by bankruptcy and removal to the Barbadoes. Franklin continued the publication of the newspaper under the title of the Pennsylvania Gazette; but it was vastly improved in every way,-better type, better paper, more news, and intelligent, wellreasoned articles on public affairs instead of Keimer's stupid prolixity.