his time and thought; and the new Hospital in 1752, in which his fellow trustees in the Academy, the two Bonds, Zachary, and Shippen were the great promoters, found him a willing and ready coadjutor, as we in the same year find him lending his countenance and aid to the honored Friend, John Smith, who founded the first Insurance Company formed in the Colonies, the Philadelphia Contributionship. He tells us:[1]
When I disengaged myself from private business, I flatter'd myself that by the sufficient tho' moderate fortune I had acquir'd, I had secured leisure during the rest of my life for philosophical studies and amusements. I purchased all Dr. Spencer's apparatus, who had come from England to lecture here, and I proceeded in my electrical experiments with great alacrity; but the publick now considering me as a man of leisure, laid hold of me for their purposes; every part of our civil government, and almost at the same time, imposing some duty upon me. The governor put me into the commission of peace, [in 1749 and again in 1752] the corporation of the city chose me one of the common council [4 october, 1748]; and soon after Alderman [1 october, 1751]; and the citizens at large chose me a burgess to represent them in Assembly [1750]. * * * My election to this trust was repeated every year for ten years without my ever asking any elector for his vote, or signifying, either directly or indirectly, any desire of being chosen. On taking my seat in the House, my son was appointed their clerk. * * * * I would not, however, insinuate, that my ambition was not flattered by all these promotions; it certainly was; for, considering my low beginning, they were great things to me and they were still more pleasing as being so many spontaneous testimonies of the public good opinion, and by me entirely unsolicited.
His first hearing on the Bench in the case of William vs. Till, (noted later) he was associated with Thomas Lawrence, Edward Shippen and Joshua Maddox, two of whom were to become his co-trustees in the Academy before this year was out.
The office of justice of the peace I tried a little, by attending a few courts, and sitting on the bench to hear causes; but finding that more
- ↑ Bigelow, i. 227.
interruptions, has, I find, made me say some things twice over, and I suppose, forget some others." Bigelow, ii. 103.
In 1764 he built on his lot on the South side of Market Street between Third and Fourth Streets, the house standing southwards from the line of the street nigh where Hudson Place now bisects the block; this is the "new house" Mrs. Franklin speaks of in the letter to her husband 7 April, 1765, Bigelow, iii. 374, and where he resided the remainder of his years. For a description of these premises and the Mansion and printing offices see Scharf & Wescott's History of Philadelphia, 1. 460, for a letter from Robert Carr to John A. McAllister written 23 May, 1864.
