In October 1786, still on crutches recuperating from his duel with Oswald, Carey launched the Columbian Magazine. He formed a partnership, recruiting Thomas Seddon, Charles Cist and James Trenchard with William Spotswood and Christopher Talbot from the Herald. Carey wrote four articles for the first issue, including one predicting a canal connecting the Ohio River to the Susquehanna and Delaware. The partners quarreled, and dividing the magazine’s profits among six partners proved to be impractical. After two months, Carey left to publish his own magazine.[1]
Franklin was back in Philadelphia, and Carey tried to court his favor. On April 20, 1786, Carey sent a copy of the debates of Pennsylvania General Assembly that he had transcribed. He included a long dedication to Franklin in the book. When Carey asked permission to publish excerpts from Franklin’s unfinished autobiography in the Columbian Magazine the elder statesman denied it. Instead, Franklin sent Carey two moral essays he had written in Paris in 1780. The second was entitled “The Deformed and Handsome Leg.” The essay ended with the admonition, “I therefore advise these critical, querulous, discontented, unhappy People, that if they wish to be loved & respected and beloved by others and happy in themselves they should leave off looking at the ugly Leg.” Franklin sent the essay as an indirect reference to Carey’s sensitivity about his deformed foot. Franklin disapproved of printers dueling.[2] First in France, then in Philadelphia Franklin pointed out that Carey’s curious “madness” at being mocked, led to the threat of a duel, and then the actual duel with Oswald.
Benjamin Franklin wanted his grandson, Benjamin Bache, to become a type founder. His grandson was more interested in publishing a newspaper and engaging in politics. Franklin had some type from his press at Passy that lacked significant amount of letters. Franklin hoped his grandson would cast the missing parts. Franklin selling it to a printer in New York, did not like its condition, and Bache’s failure to cast the type.[3]
On January 1, 1787, Carey was hard at work trying to publish the first issue of the American Museum. His wound made pulling his press uncomfortable. He also needed more type. On January 15, he confided to his diary “Reflect on suicide. Horrible thought.” He decided to buy a pistol, but changed his mind at the gunsmith’s shop. He sought Franklin’s help. Franklin was pleased to sell his faulty type from Passy to Carey. Benjamin Bache was to cast the missing parts, and once again, Bache failed to complete the work.[4]
Benjamin Franklin did help Carey with the American Museum, by subscribing to it and contributing the lead article “Consolation for America” for the first issue.[5] Their relationship remained troubled. Carey tried to return the faulty type. Franklin insisted on charging him for using it. They referred their disagreement for mediation by some other printers. The results are unknown. Carey further complained to Franklin the faulty type had kept him from “receiving two or three hundred more subscribers than [he] had…” In June 1788, Carey asked for a testimonial from Franklin for an advertisement to garner more subscriptions. Franklin denied the request. He wrote “I was always dispos’d to be serviceable to you, tho’ it seems I was once unlucky.”[6]
BECOMING AMERICAN | The American Museum Promoted a National Cultural Identity
[1] Mathew Carey, Autobiography (Brooklyn: Research Classics, 1942) 22.
[2] James N. Green, “’I was always dispos’d to be serviceable to you, tho’s it seems I was once unlucky:’ Mathew Carey’s Relationship with Benjamin Franklin” Early American Studies V. II N. 3, 551-3.
[3] Green, “I was always dispo’d,” 554.
[4] Green, “I was always dispo’d,” 554-5.
[5] Benjamin Franklin “Consolation for America, or remarks on her real situation, interests, and policy,” American Museum, V. 1 N. 1 (January, 1787)
[6] Green, “I was always dispo’d,” 555-6.