When he arrived in Philadelphia he gave to Governor Keith the letter which his father had written.

The governor was not very well pleased.  He said: 

“Your father is too careful.  There is a great difference in persons.  Young men can sometimes be trusted with great undertakings as well as if they were older.”

He then said that he would set Franklin up in business without his father’s help.

“Give me a list of everything needed in a first-class printing-office.  I will see that you are properly fitted out.”

Franklin was delighted.  He thought that Governor Keith was one of the best men in the world.

In a few days he laid before the governor a list of the things needed in a little printing-office.

The cost of the outfit would be about five hundred dollars.

The governor was pleased with the list.  There were no type-foundries in America at that time.  There was no place where printing-presses were made.  Everything had to be bought in England.

The governor said, “Don’t you think it would be better if you could go to England and choose the types for yourself, and see that everything is just as you would like to have it?”

“Yes, sir,” said Franklin, “I think that would be a great advantage.”

“Well, then,” said the governor, “get yourself ready to go on the next regular ship to London.  It shall be at my expense.”

At that time there was only one ship that made regular trips from Philadelphia to England, and it sailed but once each year.

The name of this ship was the Annis.  It would not be ready to sail again for several months.

And so young Franklin, while he was getting ready for the voyage, kept on working in Mr. Keimer’s little printing-office.

He laid up money enough to pay for his passage.  He did not want to be dependent upon Governor Keith for everything; and it was well that he did not.

* * * * *

X.—­THE FIRST VISIT TO ENGLAND.

At last the Annis was ready to sail.

Governor Keith had promised to give to young Franklin letters of introduction to some of his friends in England.

He had also promised to give him money to buy his presses and type.

But when Franklin called at the governor’s house to bid him good-bye, and to get the letters, the governor was too busy to see him.  He said that he would send the letters and the money to him on shipboard.

The ship sailed.

But no letters, nor any word from Governor Keith, had been sent to
Franklin.

When he at last arrived in London he found himself without money and without friends.

Governor Keith had given him nothing but promises.  He would never give him anything more.  He was a man whose word was not to be depended upon.

Franklin was then just eighteen years old.  He must now depend wholly upon himself.  He must make his own way in the world, without aid from anyone.