THE STRUGGLE FOR LIBERTY 117 



prepared by that brilliant group of noble Catholics 

 about Pascal ; the works of Locke's disciple Collins, 

 whose Discourse on Freethinking appeared in 1713; 

 the ethical writings (1708-1713) of Shaftesbury, 

 who defended liberty and justice, and detested all 

 persecution. A few pages of translation of Xeno- 

 phon's Memorabilia gave him a hint as to Socrates' 

 manner of discussion, and he made it his own, and 

 avoided dogmatism. 



Franklin rapidly became expert as a printer, and 

 early contributed articles to the paper. His brother, 

 however, to whom he had been bound apprentice for 

 a period of nine years, humiliated and beat him. 

 Benjamin thought that the harsh and tyrannical 

 treatment he received at this time was the means of 

 impressing him with that aversion to arbitrary power 

 that stuck to him through his whole life. He had a 

 strong desire to escape from his bondage, and, after 

 five years of servitude, found the opportunity. James 

 Franklin, on account of some offensive utterances in 

 the New England Courant, was summoned before 

 the Council and sent to jail for one month, during 

 which time Benjamin, in charge of the paper, took 

 the side of his brother and made bold to give the 

 rulers some rubs. Later, James was forbidden to pub- 

 lish the paper without submitting to the supervision 

 of the Secretary of the Province. To evade the diffi- 

 culty the New England Courant was published in 

 Benjamin's name, James announcing his own retire- 

 ment. In fear that this subterfuge might be chal- 

 lenged, he gave Benjamin a discharge of his inden- 

 tures, but at the same time signed with him a new 

 secret contract. Fresh quarrels arose between the 



