1730
(rev. 4/6/98)

Personal: Mrs. Godfrey's relatives, who had been encouraging BF in a match with their daughter, refused the terms BF proposed for a dowry, and forbad him to see the girl further, thus making him suspect that they hoped he would elope with her. When he stopped courting, they confirmed his suspicions by encouraging him again; thereupon BF declared his resolution to have nothing more to do with the family (A69-70). The Godfreys resented his suspicions and moved out of the Franklin-Meredith house at the present 139 Market Street in mid-April. Still chafing at Mrs. Godfrey's relatives two years later, BF fictionalized the story in his "Anthony Afterwit" newspaper skit; thereupon Godfrey gave his almanac for the coming year to Andrew Bradford (Lemay, 1972, 211-12, and see 10 July 1732), thus causing Franklin to start Poor Richard.

Though the NEC opposed inoculation in 1721, it is not certain whether BF or his brother James Franklin personally opposed inoculation. But since the other papers would not publish against inoculation, the NEC and, consequently, the Franklins have generally been regarded as anti-inoculationists. But by 1730, if not before, BF believed in inoculation and directly and indirectly advocated it in the PG (14 and 28 May). In a charming bit of self-satire, BF mocked his PG printing errors (2 July (c)).

On 1 Sept, BF and Deborah (Read) Rogers joined in a common-law union because her husband John Rogers might still be alive. They took BF's infant son William (b. 1728 or 1729) into the household. Deborah continued to worship at the Anglican Christ Church. On 1 Nov Stephen Potts began rooming at their home (accounts, 21 Dec). Perhaps William Jones rented from Franklin before Potts (accounts, 20 Dec).

Business: On 30 Jan, Franklin and Meredith were elected Pennsylvania's official government printers. The contract meant a steady stream of business and also a continuing source of income. Franklin and Meredith probably began looking for a journeyman printer as soon as they were named official printers, and before April, they hired Thomas Whitmarsh, "a Compositor" BF "had known in London" as a journeyman. They also hired Joseph Rose, son of Aquila Rose, as an apprentice (see ante April). By the summer, Simon Meredith revealed that he could not pay the additional £100 owed the merchant who had purchased and imported the printing press and types. Consequently the merchant sued them. Hugh Meredith, who had been spending more and more of his time drinking and gambling, suggested that BF buy him out. BF borrowed the funds from William Coleman and Robert Grace and ended the partnership on 14 July. Presumably BF paid off Coleman and Grace within the next three years, but the only record I have found is that he repaid Grace £10 on 27 June 1733.

On 27 Jan, the partners advertised a few books (in addition to the standard "Bibles, Testaments, Psalters, Psalm-Books") for sale in the small stationery store on the first floor. On 16 July, BF advertised a number of books. In the summer of 1730, the firm expanded its small stock of standard forms and few printed books to include most items carried by other stationery stores (9 July). After BF and Meredith dissolved their partnership on 14 July, Meredith probably moved out of the Market Street house.

Counting the PG as one imprint, Franklin and Meredith (and then BF alone) printed twenty works during 1730. Two were brief job printings, six were government printings, six more were items paid for by others, and six were imprints Franklin and Meredith brought out at their own risk. The two job printings were a mortgage bond from the General Loan Office of Kent County [now Delaware], filled out on 9 April 1730, and a bail bond which was filled out on 8 June 1732, though C. W. Miller speculated it was printed in 1730 (see 15 June). For the government printings, see 13 Jan (Gov. Gordon's Speech), 19 March (Votes, pt. 1), 2 April (Laws), 14 May (Votes, pt. 2), 15 Oct (Votes, pt. 3), 22 Dec (Laws), 1730; and 20 May 1731. They printed some French grammar tables for Thomas Ball (13 March). Franklin printed three German pieces for Conrad Beissel (post 14 July [2] and 12 Nov), including a hymnbook of 96 pages. Franklin reprinted an anti-slavery tract for Ralph Sandiford (22 Dec), and, near the end of the year, the Philadelphia Presbyterian Synod's agreement to use the Westminster Confession (see 7 Jan 1730/1).

Finally, BF and Meredith published three items at their own risk. The three brief Welsh imprints were no doubt printed before the partnership ended (Meredith was Welsh): two ballads (19 Feb) and a religious tract (ante 14 July). After Meredith left, BF printed John Jerman's American Almanack (15 Oct) and Thomas Godfrey's almanac (29 Oct).

The Pennsylvania Gazette was Franklin's major single publication during 1730, and was gradually becoming successful. On 13 March, the advertising attained over a page--though it averaged less than one column during the year, if we omit Franklin's own advertising. BF's interest in population statistics inspired, 3 Feb, an account of the burials and baptisms in Boston "from Decemb. 30. 1728. to Jan. 5. 1729/30." On 7 May he printed population statistics from Berlin, Colln, and Amsterdam; then on 21 May, from London. He celebrated (18 June) Joshua Gee's success at court for his books of statistics concerning trade and population, and on 29 Dec, he reported Philadelphia's burial statistics for the past year.

BF also reprinted a number of notices about deists (Thomas Woolston and Anthony Collins appeared on 19 and 26 March and 7 May) and deism (he published three essays from the London Journal on primitive Christianity, 16 to 30 July). In addition, he reprinted nine deistic "Plain Dealer" essays from the Maryland Gazette, 9 April to 2 July. Reflecting his early interest in the Socratic method, he printed selections from Xenophon (10 Sept).

He returned to politics and the Massachusetts governor's demand for a fixed salary with his essay "On Gov. Belcher's Speech," 24 Sept, which again demonstrated his popular egalitarian politics. His accompanying poem, "The Rats and the Cheese; a FABLE" revealed his disgust for Belcher, for the usual politicians, and for human greed.

BF was probably not involved in the slave trade, but advertisements concerning slaves for sale often say to "Enquire of the Printer hereof"--a common way of indicating that more information was available from the printer. He also sometimes advertised indentured servants with the same sentence--"Enquire of the Printer hereof." All colonial American printers used this formula.

Social Life and Activities: On Friday evenings, BF normally attended the Junto. Lacking records, we can only guess that Franklin, as the club's organizer, was probably its first president and felt a special obligation to the club. Since the club met weekly, the members no doubt simply canceled a meeting whenever an important event conflicted.

Circa 1730, Franklin proposed Junto members club their books (A71, 73), but after approximately one year, the project failed. During the year, BF continued his intensive private study of German (his first translation from the German appeared 15 Feb 1732).

Pennsylvania Politics: The Pennsylvania Assembly's election of Franklin and Meredith as official printers for Pennsylvania affected Franklin's routines. Beginning in 1730, he was expected to be available whenever the Assembly met in case it wanted some printing done promptly. He wrote Jane (Franklin) Mecom on 19 June 1731, that when the Assembly was in session, "I must not be absent." For this reason, I record the Pennsylvania Assembly's meeting dates beginning with 30 Jan 1730. (After 15 Oct 1736, when Franklin was elected Clerk, I record the more important subjects of the meetings; and beginning with 9 May 1752, when he was elected an assemblyman, I record the business in somewhat greater detail.) In 1730, the legislature of 1729-30 met from 12 Jan through 14 Feb and from 3 through 15 August. The new Assembly of 1730-31, elected 1 Oct, met briefly from 14 through 16 Oct to elect the speaker and to appoint the standing committees.

Writings: BF's writings during 1730 included an account of the trial and execution of Prouse and Mitchel (20 Jan); two jeux d'esprit (10 Feb); "Printer's Errors" (13 March); a note mocking Bradford for copying from the PG (19 March); "A Letter of the Drum" (23 April); the reply by "Philoclerus" (7 May); a self-satire on his printing errors (2 July); a jeu d'esprit (23 July); a note asking that those persons unhappy with the essays on primitive Christianity to reply (30 July); "The Rats and the Cheese; a FABLE," and a brief editorial protesting Royal insturctions to governors (both 24 Sept); "Rules and Maxims for promoting Matrimonial Happiness" (8 Oct); the hoax "A Witch Trial at Mount Holly" (22 Oct); news report on the aurora borealis (29 Oct); two essays on the lying of shopkeepers (11 Nov and 3 Dec); a revision and condensed version of an account of freemasonry from London and an ironic comment on astrology (both 8 Dec); and an essay read before the Junto, "On the Providence of God in the Government of the World" (see first item at year-end).

Intellectual Interests: A reprinted essay on painting reveals his interest in that fine art (4 June).

Chronology:

2 Jan, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

6 Jan, Tuesday, became 24.

6 Jan (b). PG printed notice asking for belletristic contributions (repeated occasionally throughout the first part of the year). P 1:184.

6 Jan (c). PG: Advertised Titan Leeds's, Felix Leeds's, John Jerman's, William Birkett's and the New-York almanacks, "All Sold by the Printers hereof at the common Prices." Printers gave discounts to those who purchased large quantities of almanacs; evidently BF and Meredith purchased large quantities of every major Middle Colony almanac.

9 Jan, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

13 Jan, Tuesday, printed Gov. Patrick Gordon's Speech to the assembly. Miller 29. (Cf. 27 Jan.)

13 Jan (b). PG reprinted Richard Lewis's poem "To Mr. Samuel Hastings" from the MdG. Calendar 129. (AWM reprinted it the next day.)

14 Jan, Wednesday. AWM: Carried news of the pardon of Prouse and Mitchell in one sentence: "This Day the Two Persons Prouse and Mitchel were carried from oure Goal, to the Place of Execution, but were Pardoned by the Mercy and Clemency of his Honour our Governour." Since the intended execution and reprieve took place 14 Jan, the AWM must have been printed late that day or sometime thereafter. As BF pointed out on 19 March, Bradford sometimes dated the AWM earlier than the PG, especially when he copied from it.

16 Jan, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

20 Jan, BF wrote a long account of the intended execution, speeches, and reprieve of Prouse and Mitchel. Cf. 23 Dec 1729. Canon # 13; W 138-42. AWM printed their speeches on 27 January. Discussed by Ronald A. Bosco, "'Scandal, Like other Virtues,'" in Reappraising, ed. Lemay, 88-90.

20 Jan (b). PG printed a brief report of a "Negro burnt alive" at Amboy.

23 Jan, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

27 Jan, PG first advertised imported books: three "lately brought over, and are to be Sold at the Printers hereof": Herman Moll's Complete Geographer; Isaac Watts's Logick; and Robert Beverley's History of Virginia. BF used the ad as filler, dropping Beverley the following week, and adding it on 10 Feb when he had more space. (Cf. 26 March.)

27 Jan (b). PG printed the Speech of Governor Patrick Gordon to the House, 13 Jan 1729/30, with Andrew Hamilton's reply. AWM reprinted the speeches on 3 Feb. After BF and Meredith's appointment as official printers (30 Jan), they also printed the speech as a broadside, with a different setting of type. Miller 29. The broadside marked the partners' first government printing.

30 Jan, Friday, The Pennsylvania assembly met at 9 am. "Ordered, That Joseph Pennock, John Kearsley, and John Cadwalader revise the Minutes of this House for the Press; and Resolved, upon the Question, that Benjamin Franklin and Hugh Meredith, be appointed to print the same." Votes 3: 1992. The chronology in P 1:lxxxviii has 29 Jan, perhaps following the mistaken date in the Works Projects Administration, Index to the Votes of Assembly of the Eighth Series of Pennsylvania Archives 31. BF secured the position of official printer through the influence of his friend Andrew Hamilton who had been elected Speaker on 14 Oct 1729 (A64-65). Thereafter, Franklin attempted to stay in town while the assembly met, not only to keep up his influence with the assembly, but also to print any urgent official business (Cf. 19 June 1731). The assembly continued in session (except Sundays) until 14 Feb, when it confirmed its vote that Franklin and Meredith print its acts as well as its votes.

BF (and subsequently BF and David Hall) remained the colony's official printer through the session of 1765-66, but on 25 Sept 1767 the assembly elected William Goddard its printer for the session of 1766-67. Votes 7:6056.

30 Jan (b). probably attended Junto meeting.

3 Feb, Tuesday, PG reprinted an account of the burials and baptisms in Boston "from Decemb. 30. 1728. to Jan. 5. 1729/30." Cf. 5 Jan, 1730/1.

6 Feb, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

9 Feb, Monday: advertised part one of Alexander Arscot, Some Considerations (Philadelphia: Franklin, 1730). Miller 33.

10 Feb, Tuesday. PG contained news-note jeu d'esprit on cowardly braggarts. Canon 41-42; W 143.

10 Feb (b). PG: News-note jeu d'esprit on an attempted suicide. P 1:184; W 143. Also printed in AWM of the same date; Bradford probably copied it from the PG. For the AWM's copying the PG, see 14 Jan and 19 March.

13 Feb, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

14 Feb, Saturday, Pennsylvania assembly voted: "Resolved, that Benjamin Franklin and Hugh Meredith print the Acts of Assembly that have been passed this Session." Votes 2021. Cf. 30 Jan. Assembly then adjourned until the first Monday in August.

19 Feb, Thursday, PG appeared two days late, Thursday, rather than Tuesday, 17 Feb. Franklin apologized: "The great Snow we had here, was so much greater in New-England, as to prevent all Travelling on the Roads for a considerable Time; so that the Eastern Post was not come in to York last Thursday; and therefore our Post who waited there for him, is not yet arrived here, tho' he had been expected on Friday Night last. Upon this Account the Publication of our Paper has been so long delayed." BF returned to schedule with the publication of the PG the following week on Tuesday, 24 Feb. The AWM also appeared two days late, 19 rather than 17 Feb.

19 Feb (b). PG printed account of a discovery of a "petrify'd Town in Africa" (cf. 5 March).

20 Feb, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

24 Feb, Tuesday, PG printed a brief account of Indians torturing an enemy Indian, adding further details on 5 March.

27 Feb, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

5 March, Thursday, PF printed further account of a "petrify'd Town in Africa" (cf. 19 Feb).

5 March (b). PG reported that warrior Indians disdained to take part in torturing an Indian captive (cf. 24 Feb).

6 March, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

13 March, Friday, "Printer's Errors" in PG, P 1:169-70; W 143-44.

13 March (b). PG noted that Thomas Ball's Tables for Instruction in the French Tongue (Philadelphia: Franklin and Meredith, 1730) was "now in press." On 16 April, the same advertisement appeared with the tables still supposedly "in press." No copy known: Miller 13.

13 March (c). PG advertised David Manuel, Cyfraith yr Iar a'r Mynawyd (Philadelphia: Franklin and Meredith, 1730). No copy known: Miller 22 (mistakenly citing 19 Feb ad).

13 March (d). PG advertised Ca'n Yn Dangos Truenus Hanes, Ma'b a Merch (Philadelphia: Franklin and Meredith, 1730). No copy known: Miller 17 (mistakenly citing 19 Feb ad).

13 March (e). For the first time, PG advertising took up more than one page, though it averaged (omitting BF's own advertisements) less than one column during 1730.

13 March (f). BF probably attended Junto meeting.

19 March, Thursday, PG reprinted a brief note of deist Thomas Woolston's trial. Cf. 26 March.

19 March (b). BF mocked Bradford for copying from PG. P 1:185. Cf. 14 Jan.

19 March (c). PG advertised that "Next Week will be Published, The Votes and Proceedings of the Honourable House of Representatives." Miller 28 (mistakenly citing 20 March ad). The Votes and Proceedings appeared in three parts; cf. 14 May and 15 Oct.)

20 March, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

26 March, Thursday, and April 2, Thursday, PG featured reprinted account of the prosecution and trial of the deist Thomas Woolston. Cf. 19 March.

26 March (b). PG advertised three religious books imported by Franklin and Meredith. Cf. 27 Jan. BF's second importation of books, probably not chosen by him but selected by a correspondent because they "had a run." Cf. his letter to William Strahan of 12 Feb 1744/5.

27 March, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

Before April, hired Thomas Whitmarsh, "a Compositor I had known in London," as journeyman (A68; G. S. Eddy, Account Books, 1:10, 14); and Joseph Rose as apprentice (A68).

2 April, Thursday, PG advertised that "Tuesday next [7 April] will be Published, All the Laws enacted last Session of Assembly." The Laws were advertised as "Just Published," on 9 April. The book contained the laws passed in the session of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania from 14 to 17 Oct 1729, and 12 Jan to 13 Feb 1729/30. Miller 24. For the separate (and probably later) printing of a naturalization act, giving the names of Palatinate immigrants made citizens, see Miller 25.

2 April (b). PG: BF printed a long advertisement, signed by 117 of Philadelphia's most influential merchants and citizens, saying that the New Castle paper money should circulate at the same rate or price as the Pennsylvania currency, and that they would accept one-fourth of any debts owned them in the New Castle currency at the same rate as the Pennsylvania currency. Executed on 1 Jan 1730, it went into effect on 15 Jan. Franklin added that additional persons may subscribe "at the New Printing-Office, where the Original is left for that Purpose; and their Names will be inserted in the next Publication." The following week, four more names were added to those previously printed. The same advertisements appeared in the AWM.

3 April, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

ante 9 April. The partners printed mortage bonds for the General Loan Office of Kent County [now Delaware]. Miller 18.

9 April, Thursday, PG reprinted the first of nine "Plain-Dealer" essays from the Maryland Gazette. The deistic essays appeared nearly weekly until 2 July. Aldridge, "BF and the Maryland Gazette."

9 April (b). BF noted in the PG: "The Agreement concerning the New-Castle Money, first published in our last Week's Papers, has already given a sensible Addition to the general Credit of that Currency, and will doubtless effectually accomplish the End therein propos'd."

9 April (c). PG advertised: "A Likely Negroe Woman to be Sold. Enquire at the Widow Read's in Market-Street, Philadelphia." Repeated 16 April. The Widow Read was Sarah Harwood Read, widow of Charles Read and mother of James Read, not Deborah Read's mother, who was living on High Street (see 19 Aug 1731).

10 April, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

c. 15 April, Thomas Godfrey and his wife moved from the Franklin-Meredith house. A 55-56; Roach 141.

17 April, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

23 April, Thursday, PG: BF's essay satirizing clergy, "A Letter of the Drum." Canon 42-43; W 145-48. For BF's mock reply, see 7 May.

24 April, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

24 April (b). Fire burned the southern part of town. AWM: 30 April. In PG, 30 April, BF added: "It is thought that if the People had been provided with good Engines and other suitable Instruments, the Fire might easily have been prevented spreading, as there was but little Wind. There is now a Subscription on Foot for supplying the Town with every Thing necessary of that Nature, which meets with great Encouragement. There was much Thieving at the Fire, and several ill Persons are now in Prison on that Account." Cf. 4 Feb 1734/5; BF organized the Union Fire Company, 7 Dec 1736.

30 April, Thursday. PG reprinted the advertisement concerning the New Castle paper money, adding a notice that the trustees of the General Loan-Office of Pennsylvania had also agreed to receive the Delaware bills for payments due, "not exceeding one fourth Part of the annual Quotas to be paid in." The resolution was dated 25 March.

1 May, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

7 May, Thursday. PG: BF's essay signed "Philoclerus" (Canon 43-46; W 148-51) replied to the "Letter of the Drum" (23 April).

7 May (b). PG printed a series of statistics on births, marriages, and deaths from Berlin, Colln, and Amsterdam. Cf. 5 Jan 1730/1.

7 May (c). PG reprinted news of the death of the deist Anthony Collins.

8 May, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

14 May, Thursday, BF reported a smallpox epidemic in New England and indirectly advocated inoculation: "There is an Account published of the Number of Persons inoculated in Boston in the Month of March, amounting to Seventy-two; of which two only died, and the rest have recovered perfect Health. Of those who had it in the common Way, 'tis computed that one in four died. Several Hundreds have been inoculated, and but about four in the Hundred have died under Inoculation; and even those are supposed to have first taken the Infection in the common Way." Cf. 28 May 1730; and 4 March and 8 July 1731.

14 May (b). PG advertised: "Saturday [16 May] next will be Published, The Votes and Proceedings of the Honourable House of Representatives" of the fall and winter sessions (Philadelphia: Franklin and Meredith, 1730). Miller 28. (Cf. 19 March.) Advertised as "Just Published" on 21 May.

15 May, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

15 May (b). Sarah Davenport writes BF that she has heard he was "about to be married." See [June? 1730; P 1:171] below.

21 May, Thursday, BF reprinted from London "A General Bill of all the Christenings and Burials from the 10th of Dec 1728 to the 9th of Dec, 1729." Cf. 5 Jan 1730/1.

22 May, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

28 May, Thursday, BF reprinted an account of the method and use of inoculation from Chambers's Dictionary. Cf. 14 May. On 11 June and 6 August, he reported the prevalence and decrease, respectively, of the smallpox in Boston.

29 May, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

4 June, Thursday, PG reprinted the prefatory essay and verses on "the Sight of the Variety of fine Scripture Paintings in the Escurial, a Royal Palace of the King of Spain," from the MdG, which in turn reprinted them from the Free Thinker # 63. (Though Franklin occasionally revealed expertise in painting and the fine arts, the sources of his knowledge are still difficult to locate.) For James Franklin's familiarity with art traditions, see 1718, year-end; for JF's purchase of art books, see 22 Sept 1719; and for the Courant's books, see 2 July 1722.

5 June, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

12 June, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

15 June, Monday, printed "10 Bail Bonds" (Ledger A&B, p. 172). Perhaps Know all Men by these Presents (Philadelphia: Franklin and Meredith, 1730); Miller 30. BF printed hundreds of such forms every year, adding a few particulars to the standing type.

18 June, Thursday, PG reported from London that Joshua Gee presented a copy of The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain to his Majesty and another to her Majesty. (Cf. 5 Jan 1730/1.)

18 June (b). PG carried a report of the death of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Bray, formerly Commissary in Maryland and organizer of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Franklin became a member of the Associates of Dr. Thomas Bray on 2 Jan 1760.

19 June, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

25 June, Thursday, PG [mistakenly dated 23 June] advertised ink: "James Austin's Persian Ink, approved of by the properest Judges in England to be the best of any yet made; Sold only at the New Printing-Office in Philadelphia, at 12 d. per Bottle." Cf. 8 July 1731; 21 March 1732/3.

26 June, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

June 1730, BF to Sarah Davenport, replying to her letter of 15 May. Says he is "not about to be married as you have heard. At present I am much hurryed in Business but hope to make a short Trip to Boston in the Spring." P 1:171.

2 July, Thursday, PG: reprinted the ninth "Plain Dealer" essay from the MdG, noting at the end, "The foregoing nine Plain-Dealers were written by a Gentleman in Maryland, and first published there, in the Maryland Gazette." Actually, A. Owen Aldridge (see 9 April) showed that all, excepting possibly the first two, were reprinted.

2 July (b). PG printed a news notice dated 11 June from Charleston, SC, on Alexander Cuming (or Cumming), Bart., calling him a confidence man who had bilked the inhabitants of £15,000 sterling. A denial, however, appeared in the 22 Dec AWM. Though BF never answered the denial, Cuming was in 1737 officially accused of defrauding South Carolinians and jailed in London. DNB.

2 July (c). At the end of the PG, BF apologized for transposing a line in a report of London news in last week's paper of "23" June, adding, "The judicious Reader will easily distinguish accidental Errors from the Blunders of Ignorance, and more readily excuse the former which sometimes happen unavoidably." In this bit of self-satire, BF deliberately (and humorously) did not point out that the glaring error in the late paper, "23" June, should have been "25" June. Instead, he repeated the obvious error. For another obvious self-satire, cf. 23 Sept 1731.

3 July, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

9 July, Thursday, BF expanded his standard advertisement in the PG for "Bibles, Testaments, Psalters, Psalm-Books and All the Blanks in the most authentick Forms, and correctly printed," now adding: "ALSO Variety of small History Books, Pamphlets, Ballads, and cheap Pictures engraved on Copper Plate of all Sorts of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Fruits, Flowers, &c., useful to such as would learn to draw. Likewise, Good Writing Paper, to be sold either by the Ream or smaller Quantity very reasonable, at the abovesaid Place."

10 July, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

11 July, Saturday. BF's rival printer David Harry agreed to pay his debt to BF in six months and shortly after left for Barbados. (See accounts.)

Ante 14 July, Tuesday], printed Y Dull o Fedyddia, a dwfr (Philadelphia: Franklin and Meredith, 1730). Miller 19.

14 July, Tuesday, formally dissolved partnership with Meredith (who had taken to drinking during the day, wanted to return to farming, and had evidently quit working before April [Roach 141n.51]). BF borrowed money from two friends, William Coleman and Robert Grace, to pay Meredith's father and the merchants who had imported the press (A65-66). BF retained the partnership name for the firm on the Gazette till 2 May 1732 (P 1:175). Parton 1:195, suggested that he was able to pay off the firm's debts about that time, but the accounts record that BF repaid Robert Grace £10 on his bond, 27 June 1733.

Post 14 July, Tuesday, printed Conrad Beissel, Gottliche Liebes und Lobesgethone [a hymnal] (Philadelphia: B. Franklin, 1730). Arndt & Eck 7; Miller 15. Also printed Conrad Beissel, Mystiche und sehr geheyme Sprueche (Philadelphia: B. Franklin, 1730). Arndt & Eck 6; Miller 16. Though Franklin often used Meredith's name on his imprint in the following year, I assume that these tracts, containing only Franklin's name, were printed after the partnership dissolved.

16 July, Thursday, PG began reprinting a series of essays from the London Journal on original primitive Christianity, signed "Socrates." Cf. 30 July.

16 July (b). BF advertised a group of religious books for sale. (Presumably his third--very small--importation of books.)

17 July, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

23 July, Thursday, PG printed a j'eu d'esprit on "an unluckly She-Wrestler." Canon 46; W 151.

24 July, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

30 July, Thursday, after the third essay on original primitive Christianity, Franklin noted that some persons were unhappy with the essays and he invited replies to them, which he would print "without putting the Author to one Penny Charge; provided the Answer to each Essay be not much longer than the Essay it self." No replies appeared.

31 July, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

3 August, Monday, PA Assembly met at 9am and continued in session until 15 August. Votes 3:2022-36.

7 August, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

14 August, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

15 August, Saturday, PA Assembly passed an act removing the former trustees of the General Loan Office and appointing Andrew Hamilton, Charles Read, Jeremiah Langhorne, and Richard Hayes as the new Trustees. Votes 3:2034-36. Reported in 20 Aug PG. Since he was listed first, Hamilton was the group's executive.

15 Aug (b). Pennsylvania assembly ordered: "Mr. Robeson, Mr. Goodson, Mr. Hayes, and Mr. Langhorne, are appointed to revise the Minutes of the House, and to procure them, together with the Laws that shall be enacted this Session, to be printed." Votes 2036. (Cf. 3 August.) Unfortunately, the amount paid Franklin and Meredith for printing was not recorded.

21 August, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

28 August, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

1 Sept, Tuesday, took Deborah (Read) Rogers as his wife in a common­law union because her husband might have been alive and because BF might be sued for Rogers' debts (A71). Evidently they immediately took BF's infant son William into the household. BF's responsibility for the child probably explains why he was considered a poor prospect as a husband (A70-71). Though BF occasionally attended the Presbyterian church, Deborah continued to attend the Anglican Christ Church; see 20 Oct 1732.

3 Sept, Thursday. AWM: "Last Week was inserted in the Pennsylvania Gazette, An Account of some fruitless Attempts, made by a Servant Man at Woodberry-Creek, to Exchange this World for another; we have since heard, that his Master has try'd his Luck that way, but with no better success than the Servant, some busy People being so impertinent as to pull him out of the Creek, before he had quite finish'd his Work."

4 Sept, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

10 Sept, Thursday, PG reprinted two selections from Xenophon's Memorable Things of Socrates (London, 1712), 107-14. BF testified in the Autobiography that the Socratic method, partly learned from Xenophon, charmed him. A 15.

11 Sept, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

17 Sept, Thursday. AWM: Reprinted from BNL 3 Sept, an extract of a letter from Plymouth, recording a supposed inscription on a stone dug up at Plymouth: "The Eastern World enslav'd, it's Glory ends; And Empire rises where the Sun descends." For the tradition, see Lemay, An Early American Reader 37-40. John Smibert recorded the couplet in his Notebook 102.

18 Sept, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

24 Sept, Thursday, BF: "On Governor Belcher's Speech," in PG, P 1:176. BF contended that the Royal instructions to the Massachusetts governor violated the rights of the people. Franklin's poem on the subject, entitled "The Rats and the Cheese; a FABLE," appeared after his editorial comment. Canon # 18; Calendar # 161. Nicholas B. Wainwright suggested that he may have read the poem first at a Junto meeting. "Nicholas Scull's 'Junto' Verses," PMHB 73 (1949): 82-84, at n. 4. For a discussion, see David Shields, Oracles of Empire 150-52. For some contexts, Sappenfield 84-85. For other early examples of BF's Whig principles, see B.B. on paper currency; Silence Dogood as an opponent of "arbitrary Government and unlimited Power" (NEC 16 April 1722). See also AWM attack on Franklin, 12 Feb 1740.

25 Sept, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

1 Oct, Thursday: Andrew Hamilton was elected from Bucks County for the fourth time to the Assembly. Votes 3: 2037.

1 Oct (b). In a postscript added at the end of the fourth page of the PG, Franklin printed the election returns from Philadelphia County. The paper must not have been printed until the evening.

8 Oct, Thursday, BF printed his "Rules and Maxims for promoting Matrimonial Happiness." Canon 47-50; W 151-55.

8 Oct (b). PG printed election returns for all of Pennsylvania and Delaware.

8 Oct (c). BF noted at the end of the local news: "From Boston we hear, That the Question being put in their Assembly, Whether the Salary should be fixed according the the 27th Instruction, it passed in the negative; there being but 3 Votes for it, and 81 against it."

9 Oct, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

14 Oct, Wednesday, Pennsylvania assembly met and chose Andrew Hamilton for a second time as Speaker. Votes 3:2037.

15 Oct, Thursday, "On Conversation," in PG, P 1:177-81; cf. 6:321n. Reviewing vol. one of the Papers in American Literature 32 (1960): 208-10, A. Owen Aldridge pointed out that BF reprinted it from Henry Baker's Universal Spectator, 11 Oct 1729. Canon # 20, as not by BF.

15 Oct (b). PF: Advertised The Votes and Proceedings of the Honourable House of Representatives for the last session [(Philadelphia: Franklin and Meredith, 1730)]. No copy known for this period of the assembly. Miller 28.

15 Oct (c). PG advertised John Jerman's The American Almanack [for 1731] (Philadelphia: B. Franklin and H. Meredith, [1730]) as "Just Published." Miller 21. The first almanac other than Godfrey's that BF printed.

16 Oct, Friday, Pennsylvania House ordered "That the Minutes of the Proceedings of this House, being first examined and revised in the House, be printed weekly; and that the Minutes of the preceding Day be hereafter read and examined in the Morning of the Day following." Votes 3:2040. (Note: Miller 43 mistakenly dated this 4 Jan 1730/1.)

16 Oct (b). Probably attended Junto meeting.

22 Oct, Thursday, PG printed BF's hoax "A Witch Trial at Mount Holly." P 1:182-83; W 155-57. For a discussion, see Ronald A. Bosco, "'Scandal, like other Virtues,'" 92-94.

22 Oct (b). In the evening there was a "very bright Appearance of the Aurora Borealis." Reported in the 29 Oct PG, it concluded, "But a sufficient Number of Observations have not yet been made by the Curious, to enable them to assign the Cause of this Phaenomenon with any Certainty." Canon 50-51; W 157. The 12 Nov PG reprinted accounts of the aurora borealis from Newport and Boston.

23 Oct, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

29 Oct, Thursday, advertised Godfrey's Almanack for the Year 1731 as "Just Published" [(Philadelphia: Franklin, 1730)]. No copy known. Miller 20. BF began selling copies on 23 Oct (accounts).

30 Oct, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

1 Nov, Stephen Potts, bookbinder, evidently moved in with the Franklins. See accounts, 21 Dec 1730.

5 Nov, Thursday. PG: In a comment on two poems written about Jonathan Belcher, BF claimed that early New Englanders emigrated to America for religious reasons. Canon 51; Calendar # 167; W 157-58. David Shields, Oracles of Empire, 103-08. Cf. 8 July 1731.

6 Nov, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

Ante Nov 12, probably printed Conrad Beissel, Ehebuchlein [(Philadelphia: Franklin and Meredith?, 1730)]. No copy known. Arndt & Eck 5; Miller 14. Miller reported that the Rev. John Philip Boehm, the first German Reformed minister in the Province of Pennsylvania, sent the pamphlet on marriage to the Classis of Amsterdam, 12 Nov, thinking it heretical. But the Classis judged the piece "so foolish as to deserve no consideration whatever."

13 Nov, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

19 Nov, Thursday, BF's skit on the lying of shopkeepers. Canon 51-52; W 159-61. See also 3 Dec.

20 Nov, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

27 Nov, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

3 Dec, Thursday, PG: Follow-up on the lying of shopkeepers. Canon 52-53; W 161-62. See above, 19 Nov.

3 Dec (b). PG noted: "During the three Winter Months, while the Post performs his Stage but once a Fortnight; This Paper will be published on Tuesdays. And as the Winter generally Occasions a Scarcity of News in these Parts; and it being very little Satisfaction to the Reader to have a whole Sheet when half of it must be fill'd with Trifles, or Things of small Consequence; we shall for the above Time publish it in half Sheets, which we doubt not will be equally entertaining." BF published a two-page PG on Tuesdays from 8 Dec through 23 Feb. He returned to a four-page paper and to Thursday publication on 4 March.

4 Dec, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

8 Dec, Tuesday, first of a series of two-page papers, printed on Tuesdays. Cf. 3 Dec.

8 Dec (b). BF wrote in PG: "As there are several Lodges of FREE-MASONS erected in this Province, and People have lately been much amus'd with Conjectures concerning them; we think the following Account of Free-Masonry from London will not be unacceptable to our Readers." BF condensed and revised an exposé of freemasonry from the London Daily Journal, 15 August 1730. See Douglass Knoop et al., The Early Masonic Catechisms (Manchester, 1963). Also Wayne A. Hulse, The Master Builders 1:243. Discussed in the biography (vol. 2, chap ). Cf.15 Dec.

8 Dec (c). At the end of a report on the extraordinarily dry weather throughout eastern North America and western Europe, Franklin wryly commented, "It is not observed that any Almanack-maker in the World foretold this Universal dry Weather." Canon # 26.

11 Dec, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

15 Dec, Tuesday, AWM Reprinted "The Mystery of Free-Masonry" from the London Weekly News and Register, 21 Aug.

18 Dec, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

22 Dec, Tuesday, PG: published a brief poem complimenting George Webb's "Batchelors Hall." Calendar # 169.

22 Dec (b). Advertised the laws passed by the third session of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, Laws to Session of August 3, 1730 (Philadelphia: B. Franklin and H. Meredith, 1730). Miller 26.

22 Dec (c). Advertised Ralph Sandiford, The Mystery of Iniquity [a reprinting of his Brief Examination (see Jan 1728/9)] ([Philadelphia: Franklin], Printed for the Author, 1730). Miller 31. Franklin added an amusing note: "Ralph Sandiford being bound for England, hath printed a Second Impression of his negroe Treatise to be distributed by him Gratis. ... And whereas some Persons would not apply for his Book Gratis, the printer having leave from the Author, has them ready for Sale at 12d. a-piece." If BF was going to distribute them, he wanted to make money at it. Completed printing by 30 Oct, above.

22 Dec (d). AWM: "The following is a "a Copy of a Letter sent by Alexander Cumming, Bart. to South Carolina, relating to a Paragraph inserted in the New York Gazette, Dated July 13. Wherefore the Author of the New York Paper desires hereby to inform the Reader, that he took the said Paragraph from the Pennsylvania Gazette, dated July 2." Cf 2 July.

25 Dec, Friday, probably attended Junto meeting.

29 Dec, Tuesday, PG printed totals for people buried "in the several Burying-Grounds of this City from Dec 30, 1729 to Dec 29, 1730." Cf. 5 Jan 1730/1.

[Late 1730] For the Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia, BF printed its agreement to adopt the Westminster Confession of Faith. He was paid £1.13.4. for doing so on 7 Jan 1730/1. Miller 32.

During 1730, BF wrote "On the Providence of God in the Government of the World." P 1:264­69; W163-68. Reviewing v. 1 of The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, A. Owen Aldridge pointed out that it should be dated 1730 rather than 1732: American Literature 32 (1960): 210, citing BF to B. Vaughan, 9 Nov. 1779. For a discussion of the speech, see Aldridge, BF and Nature's God 34-40; Anderson 77-79.