Meredith  persuaded  me  to  comply,  as  it  would  give
more  opportunity  for  his  improvement  under  my
daily  instructions  ;  so  I  return'd,  and  we  went  on
more  smoothly  than  for  some  time  before.  The
New  Jersey  jobb  was  obtain'd,  I  contriv'd  a  copper-
plate press  for  it,  the  first  that  had  been  seen  in  the
country ;  I  cut  several  ornaments  and  checks  for
the  bills.  We  went  together  to  Burlington,  where
I  executed  the  whole  to  satisfaction  ;  and  he  received
so  large  a  sum  for  the  work  as  to  be  enabled  thereby
to  keep  his  head  much  longer  above  water.
At  Burlington  I  made  an  acquaintance  with  many
principal  people  of  the  province.  Several  of  them
had  been  appointed  by  the  Assembly  a  committee
to   attend  the  press,   and   take   care   that   no   more


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN.  177

bills  were  printed  than  the  law  directed.  They
were  therefore,  by  turns,  constantly  with  us,  and
generally  he  who  attended,  brought  with  him  a
friend  or  two  for  company.  My  mind  having  been
much  more  improv'd  by  reading  than  Keimer's,  I
suppose  it  was  for  that  reason  my  conversation
seem'd  to  be  more  valu'd.  They  had  me  to  their
houses,  introduced  me  to  their  friends,  and  show'd
me  much  civility ;  while  he,  tho'  the  master,
was  a  little  neglected.  In  truth,  he  was  an  odd
fish  ;  ignorant  of  common  life,  fond  of  rudely  op-
posing receiv'd  opinions,  slovenly  to  extream  dirti-
ness, enthusiastic  in  some  points  of  religion,  and  a
little  knavish  withal.
