Personal: Beginning 24 Jan, Thursday, BF took charge of the NEC for three weeks while brother JF hid from the sheriff. JF turned himself in, 12 Feb, Tuesday, posting £100 for his good behavior. On 7 May, Tuesday, the Grand Jury acquitted him. BF worked for his brother until mid-Sept. The 16 Sept NEC was the last in BF's personal file. Within the week, he broke his secret indentures (knowing that his brother had to pretend that the cancelled indentures were correct [A19]) and quit working for his brother whose "harsh & tyrannical" treatment had alienated him. JF warned the other Boston printers against hiring him. On 25 Sept BF sailed secretly for New York, looking for work with the nearest printer. Finding no position there, he travelled on to Philadelphia, where he arrived on 6 Oct. There Samuel Keimer hired him as a journeyman printer. At first (7 Oct) BF boarded with Andrew Bradford, next door to the great Quaker meeting house on Second Street, but he soon (c. 10 Nov) moved to John Read's house at the present 318 Market Street.
BF recalled one Boston incident of 1723--more than sixty years after the event (31 July 1786). North Carolina's officials complained to the Massachusetts authorities that the New England rum "poisoned their people, giving them the Dry Bellyach, with a Loss of the Use of their Limbs." The Massachusetts General Court investigated and found that lead in the distilling process was to blame (3 Sept).
Writings: On 28 Jan, BF published a set of satirical "Rules" to render the NEC "pleasant and agreeable." As "Juba" (4 Feb), he censured Chief Justice Samuel Sewall. On 18 Feb, he wrote "On Titles of Honor." After Boston experienced an extraordinarily high tide (4 March), BF lampooned the explanations that had appeared in the local press (and probably in sermons). As "Timothy Wagstaff" (15 April), he wrote an essay on the influence of education and custom. And on 8 July, as "Abigail Twitterfield," he ridiculed a sermon against barrenness in women. I also attribute two new pieces to Franklin: the satiric preface to the wonderfully bad poem by Major James Fitch on the Connecticut apostasy, 11 March, and the class-conscious essay by "Dingo," 15 July, which contains the first use of an Afro-American personae in American literature.
Business: In addition to the NEC, JF printed at least two separate imprints during 1723. One, a poem entitled Gloria Britannorum; or, the British Worthies appeared in the spring while BF was working for his brother (11 March). The other, a Quaker epistle, Elizabeth Head Jacob, An Epistle in True Love, was reprinted from an English pamphlet of 1712; since there is no way to date it, it may have been printed after BF left Boston in Sept. Samuel Keimer imprints that Franklin set in type include Samuel Keimer, An Elegy on the much Lamented Death of Aquila Rose (7 Oct) and A Parable (ante 20 Nov). Four Keimer imprints with only the vague date of 1723 are Thomas Chalkley, A Letter to a Friend in Ireland; Benjamin Eastburn, The Doctrine of Absolute Reprobation Refuted; Samuel Keimer, The Triple-Plea; and John Smith, The Curiosities of Common Water (evidently printed late in the year; it was advertised in the AWM for 14 Jan 1724). Although BF said in the Autobiography that Keimer was just setting up his press and had not yet used it when BF arrived in Philadelphia (A27), the older printer may already have turned out a three-page pamphlet by "Philadelphos" A Letter from one in the Country to his Friend in the City (see 27 Sept). Keimer's 1723 imprints are listed alphabetically at the end of the year.
Massachusetts Politics: Gov. Shute sailed for London on 1 Jan, and submitted a memorial to the King concerning Massachusetts politics c. April. The Board of Trade commented on his memorial that "it was apparent from recent transactions that the inhabitants were endeavoring to wrest the small remains of power out of the hands of the crown, and to become independent of the mother country" (Palfrey, NE 4: 407). Lt. Gov. William Dummer became the chief executive of Massachusetts. He served as governor until Gov. William Burnet arrived in Massachusetts 13 July 1728. The General Court for 1723-24 met 29 May to 2 July; 7 Aug to 21 Sept; 23 Oct to 27 Dec; and 22-23 April 1724. On 29 May, John Clarke and Elisha Cooke were among the Boston representatives elected, and Clarke was elected Speaker. Nathaniel Byfield was elected a councillor. The next day, William Dummer negatived the election of Byfield. A new era began on 27 May 1725 with the election of William Dudley as Speaker and with the election of Nathaniel Byfield, Dr. John Clarke, and Elisha Cooke to the Council, none of whom was negatived (Journals 6:4).
Pennsylvania Politics: Ever since William Penn's death in 1718, the validity of land titles in Pennsylvania had been in doubt: first, because it was not certain who was the proprietor in Pennsylvania (though Penn left the land to his three sons John, Thomas, and Richard Penn, their legal rights were not fully confirmed until May 1732); and second, the boundary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland was in dispute (finally settled in 25 May 1737). As a result, comparatively few settlers either bought their land from the Penns or paid the Penns the annual quit rent. The situation began to change when the sons' legal rights were confirmed and Thomas Penn came to Pennsylvania (see 1732). When BF arrived in Philadelphia in 1723, Pennsylvania was suffering from an economic depression that had begun in 1720 (attributable mainly to the South Sea Bubble) and continued through 1723. Some contemporaries thought that the Pennsylvania paper currency issue of 23 March 1723 and especially the act of 12 Dec 1723 eased the depression.
Chronology:
1 Jan, Tuesday. Sewall: "before Sun-rise being up, I hear the Guns of the Frigat, and Castle, 11 from the first, 21 from the Castle, which is the Signal of the Governour's Sailing." Diary 2:1003. Governor Shute abandoned his struggle against the assembly and returned to England.
6 Jan, Sunday, BF became 17.
7 Jan, Monday. NEC: "His Excellency our Governour having alter'd his Design of going to London by way of the West Indies, upon the PRAYER of the Owners of the Ship Ann (according to the last Week's News-Letter and Gazette,) he set sail in the said Ship, bound directly to Great Britain on Tuesday last the first Instant, when the Guns at the Castle and those on board his Majesty's Ship seahorse were fir'd."
7 Jan (b). NEC: Bartholomew Green became both publisher (the former postmaster John Campbell had been the publisher) and printer of the BNL.
14 Jan, Monday, NEC: Lead article, an anonymous essay (by Nathaniel Gardner) against religious hypocrites reflected the popular prejudice against the New Englanders. Though such criticisms occurred often in England (e.g., Samuel Butler's Hudibras, and various writings by Edward Ward; cf. 1 Feb 1711), for a Boston paper to publish satires on New England Puritanism was amazing. The author wrote: "Indeed, all their fine pretences to Religion are only to qualifie them to act their villany the more securely: For when they have once gain'd a great reputation for Piety, and are cry'd up by their neighbours for Eminent Saints, every one will be ready to trust to their Honesty in any Affair whatsoever; tho' they seldom fail to Trick amd Bite them, as a reward for their credulity and good Opinion. ... But, are there such Men as these in THEE O New-England? Heaven forbid there should be any: But alas! it is to be fear'd the Number is not small. A Few such Men have given Cause to Strangers, (who have been bit by them) to complain of us Greatly; Give me an honest Man (say some) for all a religious Man: A Distinction which, I confess, I never heard of before. The whole Country suffers for the Villanies of a few such Wolves in Sheeps Cloathing, and we are all represented as a pack of Knaves and Hypocrites for their Sakes." Captain Taylor identified Gardner as the author, 21 Jan (e).
14 Jan (b). NEC: A brief article on p. 2 imitated Cotton Mather's attitudes and quoted from his News from R. Crusoe's Island on the consequences of alienating Governor Shute. Captain Taylor also identified Gardner as the author of this piece, 21 Jan (e).
14 Jan (c). NEC: A letter on p. 2 recommended sending agents to England to counteract the information that Shute would report.
14 Jan (d). NEC: "Quaere, Whether (pursuant to the Charter) the Ministers of this Province, ought now to pray for Samuel Shute Esq; as our immediate Governour, and at the same time pray for the Lieut. Governour as Commander in Chief? Or, Whether their praying for his Success in his Voyage, if he designs to hurt the Province (as some suppose) be not in Effect to pray for our Destruction?" Cf. 30 Dec 1722. The author was evidently Captain Taylor; see 28 Jan (d).
14 Jan (e). NEC: "The Rev. Mr. John Wise of Ipswich has been desir'd to preach the next Election Sermon." Wise refused, and the House asked Benjamin Colman (29 May).
14 Jan, Monday, 1722/3, the Council declared: "Whereas the Paper called The New England Courant, of this Day's date, contains many Passages in which the Holy Scriptures are perverted, and the Civil government, Ministers and People of this Province highly reflected on, Ordered, That William Tailer, Saml. Sewal, and Penn Townsend, Esqrs. with such as the Honourable House of Representatives shall join, be a Committee to consider and Report what is proper for this Court to do thereon. Sent down for Concurrence. J. Willard, Secretary.
In the House of Representatives, 14 Jan 1722[/3]. Read and Concurred, and Mr. Fulham, Mr. Remington, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Knolton be joined with them. Dr. John Clarke, Speaker." NEC 21 Jan.
15 Jan, Tuesday. "The Committee appointed to Consider of the Paper called, The New England Courant, published Monday the fourteenth Current, are humbly of Opinion that the Tendency of the said Paper is to mock Religion, and bring it into Contempt, that the Holy Scriptures are therein profanely abused, that the Reverend and faithful Ministers of the Gospel are injuriously Reflected on, His Majesty's Government affronted, and the Peace and good Order of his Majesty's Subjects of this Province disturbed, by the said Courant; and for prevention of the like Offence for the Future, the Committee humbly propose, That JF be strictly forbidden by this Court to Print or Publish the New England Courant, or any other Pamphlet or Paper of the like Nature, except it be first supervised by the Secretary of this Province; and the Justices of his Majesty's Sessions of the Peace for the County of Suffolk, at their next Adjournment, be directed to take sufficient Bonds of the said Franklin for <his good Behaviour for> Twelve Months Time.--per Order of the Committee, William Tailer." Note: The words within side-angle brackets were added in BF's hand to his file of the NEC.
"In COUNCIL, 15 Jan 1722. Read and Accepted. Sent down for Concurrence. J. Willard, Secr." NEC 21 Jan. Cf. 16 Jan.
16 Jan, Wednesday. "In the House of Representatives. Jan 16. 1722. Read and Concurr'd. John Clark, Speaker. Consented to, W. Dummer." NEC 21 Jan. (Cf. last entry, 15 Jan.)
20 Jan, Sunday. At night, a "virulent Libel" was thrown into Sewall's entryway. Sewall's 27 Jan (Diary) comment suggests that a Couranteer wrote it, but the libel is not extant. As the only adolescent among the Couranteers, it seems probable that BF wrote the libel.
21 Jan, Monday, James Franklin defied the court order and printed the NEC.
21 Jan (b). NEC: Lead essay printed two psalms, supposedly as examples of Isaac Watts's new translation, but the psalms selected (nos. 56 and 58) satirized judges, thus implicitly commenting on the order forbidding JF to publish without prior permission. JF and perhaps BF knew that the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton, when angry with Sewall, had the same stanzas from Psalm 58 sung in church on 3 Dec 1710.
21 Jan (c). NEC: Published the proceedings against JF of the 14-16 Jan. They also appeared in the Philadelphia American Weekly Mercury; see 26 Feb.
21 Jan (d). Sewall: "The Courant comes out very impudently." Diary 2:1004.
21 Jan (e). BNL: Capt. Christopher Taylor advertised that he was not the author of the NEC's first two articles 14 Jan. Instead, "a Certain Skinner of this Town, who is said to be a Corporal, was the author of the two first Letters in the Courant of the 14th of January last; assisted by others; and (no doubt 'tis believed) those very men were the Authors of the Courant of the 10th of December last, as well as the two Courants that came out since what the General Court did in that affair, and many more of the same nature formerly." See Fireoved.
24 Jan to 12 Feb, BF was again in charge of the NEC while brother JF hid from the sheriff.
24 Jan, Thursday. Council order: "Voted That it be recommended to Penn Townsend Edward Bromfield & Josiah Willard Esqrs to issue out their Warrant for apprehending James Franklyn of Boston Printer, & that they bind him over to answer, at the next Assizes to be held for the Country of Suffolk, for his high contempt of the order of the Genl Assembly at their last Session referring to his Paper called the New England Courant." Duniway 164-65.
27 Jan, Sunday. Sewall: "The Libel [thrown into Sewall's doorway on the night of the 20th] and the Courant look upon, and interpret, and sharpen each other." Diary 2: 1005.
28 Jan, Monday. Warrant issued for JF's arrest. Dunaway 165.
28 Jan (b). Undersheriff John Darrell reported: "By Vertue of this Warrant I made Diligent Search and I Can not find him [JF] in my precinct." Suffolk Court Files, 16480; Duniway 165.
28 Jan (c). NEC: In the lead essay, BF wrote a series of ironic "Rules" to render the NEC "pleasant and agreeable." Canon no. 3; W 44-47.
28 Jan (d). NEC: Advertisement: "WHEREAS Capt. Christopher Taylor has with great Cost and Pains proclaim'd to the World, that he was not the Author of the two first Letters in the Courant of the 14th Instant; (tho' we cannot learn that he was ever charg'd with being so.) This is to let the publick know, that 'tis thought the Design of his Advertisement was to Inform People that he was the Author of the last Letter in said Courant, which, (no Doubt) gave as much Offence, if not more than both the other two."
28 Jan (e). NEC: Advertisement: "A Servant Boys Time for 4 Years to be disposed of. He is about 16 Years of Age, has been brought up a Drawer, & can keep Accompts. He has a mind to live with a Vintner. Enquire at the Blue Ball in Union Street, and know farther." The Blue Ball marked Josiah Franklin's home. See 21 Dec (b) 1719.
28 Jan (f). Josiah Franklin paid off his mortgage with Simeon Stoddard and took out a new one with Hannah Clarke on his home at the southwest corner of Hanover and Union streets. This new mortgage was cancelled on 9 Aug 1739. Thwing Index at MHi, citing Suffolk Deeds 36:191. Cf. 8 Feb 1711/2.
4 Feb, Monday. NEC: BF as "Juba" lampooned Chief Justice Samuel Sewall. Canon no. 4; W 47-48.
4 Feb (b). NEC: Under local news: "We hear the Report of the Committee relating to the New-England Courant, was accepted in the lower House by a Majority of one Vote only."
11 Feb, Monday. To avoid breaking the letter of the law, which forbade JF to publish the newspaper without first showing it to the Secretary of the Province, the NEC appeared over BF's name. BF received his indenture papers back, with a full discharge, but signed a secret new indentures with his brother (A19).
11 Feb (b). NEC: Lead essay, in part or whole by BF, defined the purpose of the paper ("the Diversion and Merriment of the Reader") and presented the editor's persona as "old Janus." P 1:47-50.
11 Feb (c). NEC: Concluding editorial advertisement: "This Paper having met with so general an Acceptance in Town and Country, as to require a far greater Number of them to be printed, than there is of the other publick Papers; and being besides more generally read by a vast Number of Borrowers, who do not take it in, the Publisher thinks proper to give this publick Notice for the Incouragement of those who would have Advertisements inserted in the publick Prints, which they may have printed in this Paper at a moderate Price."
11 Feb (d). NEC: New imprint reads: "BOSTON: Printed and sold by Benjamin Franklin in Queen Street, where Advertisements are taken in." Besides the all-important change of the printer from JF to BF, it is noteworthy that JF felt that he was now well-enough known that he did not have to identify himself by his neighbors. (For the former imprint, see 7 Aug 1721.)
12 Feb, Tuesday, JF emerged from hiding and posted £100 bond in court for his "Good Behaviour." His two sureties were his brother-in-law James Davenport of Boston, a baker, and Thomas Fleet of Boston, printer. Duniway 165. Cf. 7 May 1723.
18 Feb, Monday. NEC: Lead essay, "On Titles of Honor," by BF. P 1:51-52; W 49-50.
25 Feb, Monday. NEC: Lead essay, by "J.R.," answered the essay by "Hypercriticus" on two late elegies. The author referred to Abraham Cowley's statement that "it is a difficult thing for a man to speak concerning himself; For as it crosses a Man's Inclinations to speak against himself, so is it displeasing to others for a Man to speak in his own Commendation." Cowley's Works was among the books in the NEC office; see 2 July 1722.
26 Feb, Tuesday. AWM: Andrew Bradford published the proceedings against James Franklin and added the following editorial comment (probably furnished by JF or Nathaniel Gardner): "My Lord Coke observes, That to punish first and then enquire, the Law abhors, but here Mr. Franklin has a severe sentence pass'd upon him even to the taking away Part of his Livelihood, without being called to make Answer. An Indifferent Person would judge by this vote against Couranto, That the Assembly of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay are made up of Oppressors and Bigots who make Religion only the Engine of Destruction to the People; and the rather, because the first Letter in the Courant of the 14th of Jan (which the Assembly Censures) so naturally represents and exposes the Hypocritical Pretenders to Religion. Indeed, the most famous Politicians in that Government (as the infamous Gov. D[udley] and his Family) have ever been remarkable for Hypocrisy; and it is the general Opinion that some of their Rulers are rais'd up and continued as a Scourge in the Hands of the Almighty for the Sins of the People. Thus much we could not forbear saying, out of Compassion to the distressed People of the Province, who must now resign all Pretences to Sense and Reason, and submit to the Tyranny of Priestcraft, and Hypocrisy.
P. S. By private Letters from Boston we are informed, That the Bakers there are under great Apprehensions of being forbid baking any more Bread, unless they will submit to the Secretary as Supervisor-General and Weigher of the Dough, before it is baked into Bread, and offered to Sale." Reprinted in I. Thomas, History of Printing, ed. McCorison, 240-41.
Tourtellot 432-33 thought Bradford wrote the satirical report, but the author was entirely familiar with both the Courant and Massachusetts politics. Besides, Bradford wrote little; he compiled. Though John Eliot, 1799, thought BF the author, I agree with Isaiah Thomas that it was more likely a Couranteer--I suspect James Franklin or Nathaniel Gardner. Canon 37 (no. 5).
4 March, Monday. NEC: In the lead essay, "Hypercriticus" replied to the 25 Feb. critic.
4 March (b). NEC: In a news essay, p. 2, on Boston's high tide, BF mocked the author (Cotton Mather?) of the BNL report. Canon no. 6; W 50-51. Joshua Blanchard 397 recorded: "this year in Feby the tide rose some feet higher then ever thay ware known to do before in so much that some people was obliged when thay came from meeting to be caried to their houses in chairs -- it was thought the damage that the town sustained was aboute thirty thousand pounds." Mather had used the unusual work hypothesimania in a letter concerning giant bones sent to Dr. John Woodward, and Franklin burlesqued the word. Though an excerpt from Mather's letter appeared in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 29 (1714): 62-63, the word did not appear in that extract. Perhaps Franklin had seen one of the manuscript copies of the letter. David Levin, "Giants in the Earth" 770.
11 March, Monday. NEC: A wit (BF) sent in the awful verse of the Honourable Major James Fitch of Canterbury (b. 1649) on the Connecticut apostasy, claiming in a cosmopolitan preface (quoting Dryden and echoing John Norris) that Fitch has "brought kitelick Poetry to Perfection." Calendar 38. Lemay, "BF and the Connecticut Apostasy," 144-46. Cf. 20 June.
11 March (b). NEC "Just Published, and sold by Nicholas Buttolph ... Gloria Britannorum (Boston: J. Franklin for N. Buttolph, 1723). Campbell X44; Evans 2438.
18 March, Monday. NEC: Lead essay on tatlers and talebearers is probably not by BF. Rejected in Canon, no. 7.
18 March (b). NEC: Under local news: "Two printed Pamphlets have been lately thrown about our Streets, one of them entituled Truth and Day-light, and the other with this Title, From the Town of Inquisition to the Great Don Pedro on Cruso's Island, Great Patron of our Island and Imprimatour." Neither apparently is extant.
23 March. Saturday. Pennsylvania assembly passed a bill for £15,000 paper money. £11,000 to be loaned on security of land, houses, or silver plate. Newman 326. Cf. 12 December.
25 March, Monday. NEC: "Ephraim Rotewell" (no doubt a Couranteer) expressed his fear that the new singing would bring in Roman Catholicism. Janus ironically reassured Rotewell that it would not, "especially if we keep close to our own Version of the Psalms, which is a sure Bulwark against Popery."
But O these Lines of Nic. and Nahum!
May no one sing or ever say 'um."
A delightful early satire of the Bay Psalm Book.
1 April, Monday. NEC: The lead verse essay concerned "Kitelick" poetry.
3 April, Wednesday. Hannah Franklin Eddy Cole (half-sister of BF) died in Boston. P 1:lvii.
8 April, Monday. NEC: Printed a jeremiad on the "Increase and Progress of Vice." Rejected as BF's, Canon no. 97.
11 April, Thursday. BNL: Verse by "S.S." (Samuel Sewall). See 10 June.
15 April, Monday. NEC: BF, as "Timothy Wagstaff," wrote on the influence of education and custom. Canon no. 8; W 52-55. Cf. 15 July.
19 April, Friday. At 9 am, the Boston town meeting elected Dr. John Clarke, Elisha Cooke, Isaiah Tay, and Ezekiel Lewis as representatives. RRC 8:172.
22 April, Monday. NEC: "Patricius," out of "Love to my native Country" (New England) objected to land being given to newcomers.
22 April (b). NEC: Local news: "On Monday last they began to lay the Foundation of the new Church in this Place, for the Worship of God according [to] the Liturgy of the Church of England, and the Reverend Mr. Miles laid the first Stone." Christ Church, an early Georgian-style New England church, was designed by William Prince.
c. April. Gov. Samuel Shute submitted a memorial to the King on Massachusetts politics, complaining of his treatment and summarizing his difficulties with the assembly. Printed in William Stevens Perry, Historical Collections vol. 3: Massachusetts (1873), 121-26. Acts PC 1720-1745, 92-104, presents the judgment of the Council upon Shute's memorial. Cf. 22 July (c).
6 May, Monday. NEC (4p): Apologia and vindication of JF, pp. 1-3, signed "Philo-Daicaios." Composed by JF, perhaps with the input of Nathaniel Gardner and possibly BF. JF again quoted Aislabie (cf. 16 July 1722). Duniway missed this essay (perhaps it was not in the Courant file that he used), and all subsequent writers on the subject, evidently following Duniway's otherwise excellent account, also overlooked JF's long and detailed summary of the events.
6 May (b). BG essay claimed that separatists historically composed New England Congregational churches. Since a reply on 9 Sept 1723 has been attributed to BF, the series is here noted. For the series, see 13, 27, and 30 May, 3 June, 9 Sept 1723, and 5 Nov 1730.
7 May, Tuesday, "The Bill or presentment Exhibited against him being returned by the Grand Jury, with Ignoramus thereupon, the said James Francklyn was Discharged by Proclamation from his said Recognisance."--"Records of Superior Court of Judicature, 1721-1725," p. 119; quoted in Duniway 166.
13 May, Monday. NEC: Lead essay, by "Philalethes," declared that the BG essay last Monday (6 May) proved false the claim "That the design of their Fathers in coming hither, was to get from under the Yoke of the Church of England."
13 May (b). NEC: "Aminadae" ironically praised the Quakers.
13 May (c). NEC: Price of NEC raised from 10s to 12s a year, with 15s charged for RI customers and 16s for those who receive it by mail.
20 May, Monday. NEC: Lead article satirized a pamphlet entitled The Result of a Council held at Billingsgate in Eastham, Nov 8, 1720. Note: the minister at Eastham, MA, Benjamin Webb, graduated from Harvard College in 1715. Shipton 6:112 sheds no light on the pamphlet; neither do his references. Perhaps the title was fictitious.
20 May (b). NEC: A brief letter signed "Resigning Remarko" allegorically commented on the forthcoming election.
27 May, Monday. NEC: Lead essay is an "Answer to Philalethes" (of 13 May), giving a brief history of Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony to prove that the first settlers of New England emigrated for religious reasons. Signed "Anti-Pseustes." For the debate, see 6 May.
27 May (b). NEC: "Just publish'd...A modest Proof of the Order and Government settled by Christ and his Apostles in the Church" by John Checkley (Boston: Fleet for Eliot, 1723). Evans 2417.
29 May, Wednesday. John Clarke was elected Speaker. Nathaniel Byfield was elected a Councilor. Journals 5:4-5.
30 May, Thursday. In the afternoon, William Dummer negatived Byfield. Journals 5:7.
3 June, Monday. NEC: "A. I." replied to "Anti-Pseustes" [27 May], citing extracts from a 1630 letter and condemning the Plymouth colonists as Brownists. For the debate, see 6 May.
10 June, Monday. NEC: Lead essay, by "S.S., Senior" satirized Samuel Sewall's verse in the 11 April BNL.
17 June, Monday. NEC: Lead article ridiculed the reprinted, old foreign news in the BNL.
20 June, Thursday. BNL: Ebenezer Fitch (1683-1724) of Windsor, Ct., replied to the satire of Major James Fitch's poetry in the 11 March NEC. Cf. 24 June.
24 June, Monday. NEC: "Janus" answered Ebenezer Fitch (cf. 20 June). Calendar 41.
24 June (b). NEC: "A True Lover of Passive Obedience and Non-Resistance" submitted a letter mocking such Quaker doctrines.
27 June, Thursday. BNL: Ebenezer Fitch answered Janus (24 June).
1 July, Monday. NEC: "Janus" pointed out that the last BNL repeated two articles from the week before and replied to Ebenezer Fitch (27 June). Calendar 41.
1 July (b). NEC: "Christopher Pottash" satirized New England for sending abroad bad goods. The mock advertisement concluding the piece suggested that the merchandise in question was soap (a product that the Franklins, sons of a soap-maker, knew especially well). The attention to the jargon used in bills of lading suggests that the article was by a printer: "nor is there scarce any need of inserting in the Bills of Lading, the Danger of the Seas excepted, for no Storm will affect those airy Commodities [bad goods] if the Lives of the Mariners are preserv'd; and if one Ship miscarries, they will undoubtedly come in another. I would advise the Adventurers too, to leave out the Words, Shipped by the Grace of God, and only say, Shipped by word of Mouth." The latter may be the source of Isaiah Thomas's anecdote of Franklin's advertising bills of lading that said "Shipped with or without the Grace of God." History of Printing in America, ed. McCorison, 370n. The piece was probably written by JF or BF.
1 July (c). NEC: "Nath. Coffin," p. 2, sent in a tall tale of a snake with two heads.
8 July, Monday. NEC: In the lead essay, BF, as "Abigail Twitterfield," mocked a sermon on barrenness in women. Canon no. 9; W 55-56.
15 July, Monday. NEC: "Dingo," an "aged Negro Man," tells of being jailed for selling rum and given a fine which he is unable to pay. The piece was inspired by the NEC essay of 15 April. I attribute this social satire on the unfairness of the law to BF and give reasons in the biography. It is the first African-American persona in American literature. Cf. 26 Aug (c). Also see Franklin's later persona, "Blackamore," 30 Aug 1733.
22 July, Monday. NEC: The lead poem is signed "Mr. Steers" (Richard Steere). Calendar 42.
22 July (b). NEC: Advertisement: "On Tuesday the 11th of June, being St. Barnabas Day, was begun the Raising of a large House in Providence [R.I.], dedicated to the Service of Almighty God, according to the true Apostolical Constitution, as practised in the established Church of England, and the same compleatly finished the fourth Day after. During the whole Time of the said Raising, all things were carryed on with great Success, and not the least Damage done to any Person: There was a conspicuous Smile of Divine Providence upon the whole Affair; and the Compleating of said Work will be forwarded with the utmost Application: And the Charities of all such as are piously disposed to help forward so good a Work, will be gratefully received by the Committee apppointed to manage the same."
22 July (c). NEC: "Postscript. By Letters from London of the eighth of May last past, there is Advice that Col. Shute has delivered a Memorial to the Right Honourable the Lord Carteret complaining of the Proceedings of the House of Representatives; which Memorial was to be referr'd to the Lords Commissioners for Trade, in order to be examined whether the Allegations therein contained could be made out." For Shute's memorial, see c. April.
29 July, Monday. NEC: Poem praising John Wise's The Church's Quarrel espous'd. Calendar # 43.
5 Aug, Monday. NEC: In the lead essay, "TIBULLUS" satirized three terrible elegies by "J. Calf of Newbury." See also 5 Aug (b).
5 Aug (b). NEC: "DIC. RYMER" ridiculed in verse the "three incomparable Elegies" of J.C[alf]. of Newbury." Calendar 44. See also 5 Aug (a).
23 Aug, Friday. Sewall: "Dr. Increase Mather [died], just at noon, after long and grievous Sickness." Diary 2:1008.
26 Aug, Monday. NEC: Satirical essay on John Winthrop's extemporary verse. Calendar 45 and 45a. Mentions the revival of Kitelic poetry by Calf (cf. 5 Aug (a and b)).
26 Aug (b). NEC: Satirical poem dedicated to John Winthrop by "Philo Poesis Extemporaris." Calendar 46.
26 Aug (c). NEC: A satirical poem addressed to John Winthrop, signed "Dingo." Calendar 47. Cf. the 15 July pseudonym, but since the implications of the pseudonym are here derogatory rather than sympathetic, I doubt that BF wrote the poem.
29 Aug, Thursday. Increase Mather's funeral. Sewall: "Were a vast nuber of Followers and Spectators." Diary 2:1008.
2 Sept, Monday. NEC: The lead essay attacked Janus for his satire(s) on John Winthrop and concluded with a good local poem signed "Philo-Satyricus." Calendar 48.
2 Sept (b). NEC: Local news: "We have advice from Exeter, that on the Beginning of last Week, the Indians set fire to the House of Mr. Rawlins of that Place, and kill'd him and six of his Chil[d]ren. 'Tis thought 8 or 9 Men who went out on a Scout are likewise kill'd."
3 Sept, Tuesday. BF recalled, 31 July 1786, an incident of 1723. North Carolina's officials had complained to the Massachusetts authorities that the New England rum "poisoned their people, giving them the Dry Bellyach, with a Loss of the Use of their Limbs." The complaint caused "a general Discourse in Boston." Upon examining the distilleries, "it was found that several of them used leaden Still-heads and Worms, and the Physicians were of Opinion, that the Mischief was occasioned by that Use of Lead." Consequently, an act was passed "prohibiting under severe Penalties the Use of such Still-heads and Worms thereafter." (Smyth 9:530-31.) The House appointed a committee on 10 June 1723 to inquire into the effects of using lead in distilling rum. The House debated the report on 20 June and then asked that a bill be drawn up. The bill was read on 8 Aug; read for the second time, 9 Aug; the third time, 10 Aug, passed, and sent up for concurrence. The council read it three times and passed it with amendments which the House agreed to on 30 Aug. The engrossed bill was brought down on 31 Aug and passed (Journals 5: 22, 44, 107, 157, and 161). "An Act for Preventing Abuses in Distilling of Rum and other Strong Liquors, with Leaden Heads or Pipes" became law on 3 Sept 1723. Acts and Resolves 2: 302-03.
9 Sept, Monday. NEC: An essay appeared on the New England Way, citing Benjamin Colman's reservations, and attacking the ministers: "for who sees not, that many honest zealous People, besides giving that Honour and Respect which is their Ministers just due, are ready to vote them almost infallible?" For the quarrel, see 6 May. For a rejection of this essay's attribution to BF, see Canon # 98.
9 Sept (b). Local news: "On Monday last the Mohawks had a Conference with the General Assembly, when they resolv'd to take up the Hatchet against the Eastern Indians. ... They have several times diverted themselves and great Numbers of Spectators by their own manner of Dancing, and on Friday last in the Afternoon they kill'd an Ox with their Bows and Arrows, and boil'd him in the Common, where they continu'd dancing till late in the Evening."
16 Sept, Monday. NEC: Addisonian essay on "Gossipping" by Z.Y.
16 Sept (b). NEC: Local news: "On Saturday last the Mohawks were splendidly entertain'd at Castle William, his Majesty's Council and the House of Representatives attending them."
16 Sept (c): This was the last NEC in Franklin's personal file (W. C. Ford). Within the week, BF broke his secret indentures (knowing that JF had to pretend that the cancelled indenture was correct) and quit working for his brother whose "harsh & tyrannical" treatment ("tho a brother, he considered himself as my Master") had alienated him. Since JF warned other Boston printers against hiring him, BF had to leave Boston. A20.
25 Sept to 6 Oct: Franklin's trip to Philadelphia
25 Sept, Wednesday, BF sailed secretly from Boston aboard the sloop Speedwell, Captain Arnout Schemerhorne, to New York (NCE 166-67). Becalmed off Block Island, the sailors caught fish. BF broke his vegetarian diet and ate cod. A35.
27 Sept, Friday, arrived in New York, asked for work with printer William Bradford, who advised him to try Philadelphia.
27 Sept (b). If the date on the letter, "Sept 27, 1723," also refers to the date of printing, then the following imprint, rather than the elegy on Acquila Rose (see 7 Oct), is Keimer's first Philadelphia imprint. "Philadelphos," A Letter from one in the Country to his Friend in the City (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1723). Campbell X49; Evans 2476.
30 Sept, Monday. NEC: JF advertised for a "likely lad" as an apprentice to replace BF.
1 Oct, Tuesday, BF sailed from New York for the brief trip to New Jersey, encountered a squall, and spent 30 hours on water. A21-22; NCE 166-67.
2 Oct, Wednesday, BF arrived at Perth Amboy, NJ, in the evening with a fever. A22; NCE 166-68.
3 Oct, Thursday. In a hard rain, BF began walking across New Jersey, stopping at noon at a poor inn where he was suspected of being a runaway servant. A22; NCE 166-68.
4 Oct, Friday. BF finished walking across New Jersey, arriving at Dr. John Browne's inn at Bordentown that night. A22; NCE 166-68.
5 Oct, Saturday. BF walked on to Burlington, found that the regular boat had already left, and agreed with an old woman to lodge at her home until Tuesday, 8 Oct, but joined a boat that evening going to Philadelphia. A23; NCE 166-68.
Philadelphia, 6 Oct 1723 to 5 Nov 1724
6 Oct, Sunday. After spending most of the previous night at Cooper's Creek on the Delaware River opposite Philadelphia, BF reached the city about 8am, with only a Dutch dollar and a few copper pence (A23-24; NCE 166-68). After sleeping through the meeting held at the great Quaker Meeting House at the southwest corner of Second and Market streets (A25) BF lodged for the night at the Crooked Billet Tavern (A25), at the site of the present 35 South Front Street, kept by innkeeper George Forrington (Roach 128).
7 Oct, Monday. BF took lodging with Andrew Bradford at the Sign of the Bible (A 26), on the site of the present 12, 14, 16, and 18 South Second Street (Roach 12930). He found work with Samuel Keimer as a journeyman printer at the site of the present 318 Market Street (Roach 131). When he first met Keimer, the printer was composing An Elegy on the much Lamented Death of Aquila Rose (Philadelphia: Samuel Keimer, 1723). Campbell X48; Evans 2436.
10 Oct, Thursday. American Weekly Mercury (hereafter AWM) ad: "These are to desire those Country Gentle-Men that are Indebted, to Thomas Denham for Servants, or other-wise to make payment directly, in order to prevent further Charge, the said Denham, being bound for England this Fall."
17 Oct, Thursday. AWM: Cleared for Departure: Sloop Speedwell, Arnt. Schermerhorne to Boston. The sloop that BF took from Boston to New York had sailed on to Philadelphia and was now returning.
17 Oct (b). AWM: "Yesterday James Logan Esq; Secretary of this Province, left this City in order to Imbark at New-Castle, for London, he was attended out of this City by about 50 Horse."
late Oct? Thomas Chalkley, A Letter to a Friend in Ireland Third Ed. (Philadelphia: Samuel Keimer, 1723). Campbell X46; Evans 2416.
c. 10 Nov, Sunday. BF began lodging with John Read (father of BF's future wife Deborah) next door to Keimer's shop (A27), both houses located at the site of the present 318 Market Street. Roach 131.
ante 20 Nov, Wednesday. Samuel Keimer, A Parable (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1723). Campbell X50; Evans 2437. No copy known. For the date, see 24 Dec.
12 Dec, Tuesday. Pennsylvania Assembly passes a paper money act for £30,000. Newman 327.
24 Dec, Thursday. AWM: "Whereas one Samuel Keimer, who lately came into this Province of Pennsylvania, hath Printed and Published divers Papers, particularly, one Entituled, A Parable, &c. in some Parts of which he assumes to use such a Stile and Language, as that perhaps he may be Deemed, where he is not known, to be one of the People called Quakers: This may therefore Certifie, That the said Samuel Keimer is not one of the said People, nor Countenanced by them in the aforesaid Practices. Signed by Order of the Monthly Meeting of the said People called Quakers, held at Philadelphia, the 20th Day of the Ninth Month. 1723. Samuel Preston, Cl." Thinking that the Quakers dated the months from Jan, Charles Evans mistakenly wrote that the Quakers condemned this pamphlet at the monthly meeting on 29 Sept. But in the early eighteenth century, the Quakers dated dated the months beginning with March. The ninth month was Nov. Isaiah Thomas wrote that A Parable was the "joint work" of Keimer and Franklin (363). Many subsequent scholars, knowing that Franklin arrived in Philadelphia in Oct, have thought that he could not have assisted in either writing or setting type for A Parable because they mistakenly believed it appeared in September (e.g., C. Lennart Carlson, "Samuel Keimer," 372; Norma Summers 46). Unfortunately, no copy of A Parable (Philadelphia: Keimer, 1723) is extant.
Franklin recollection of 1723:
Franklin "told us that in 1723, people went to market with cut silver, those who had it not, procured provisions by taking the country people to two Stalls in the market, & giving them goods for them, which goods were charged to their Accts. & paid for once or twice a year. He added that, it would be an advantage to our country for the Europeans to be the carriers of our produce for many years, for as they could not afford to lye long in our ports, they must always sell 10 % lower & buy 10 % higher than our own merchants." Benjamin Rush recorded this conversation with BF in late Sept 1786. PMHB 29 (1905):25. See above, 23 March, where silver plate is one of the securities mentioned on which paper currency could be borrowed.
Discussing his pamphlet on The Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency (1729) in the Autobiography, Franklin recalled that "when I first walk'd about the Streets of Philadelphia, eating my Roll, I saw most of the Houses in Walnut Street between Second and Front Streets with Bills on their Doors, to be let; and many likewise in Chestnut Street, and other Streets; which made me then think the Inhabitants of the City were one after another deserting it" (A67). Philadelphia suffered a depression in 1723. Attempting to remedy the lack of currency, the legislature passed an Act of 23 March 1723 for £15,000 paper money and another on 12 December 1723 for £30,000.
Five Keimer imprints of 1723--and possibly to 25 March 1723/4 (not specifically dated) are:
1. Thomas Chalkley, A letter to a Friend in Ireland (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, 1723). Campbell X46; Evans 2416.
2. Benjamin Eastburn, The Doctrine of Absolute Reprobation Refuted (Philadelphia: Samuel Keimer, 1723). Campbell X47; Evans 2430.
3. Elizabeth Head Jacob, An Epistle in True Love (Boston: J. Franklin, 1723). Campbell X43; Evans 2434.
4. [Samuel Keimer], The Tripole-Plea (Philadelphia: S. Keimer, [1723?]. Bristol 656; no Campbell; Evans 39793.
5. John Smith, The Curiosities of Common Water (Philadelphia: Samuel Keimer, 1723). Austin 1769; Campbell X51; Evans 2477.