About this time there was a cry among the people for more paper money, only fifteen thousand pounds being extant in the province, and that soon to be sunk.
约在这时候,在人民中间有一种要求发行更多纸币的呼声,当时宾夕法尼亚的纸币流通额只有一万五千镑,就是这一数目不久也将要减少。
The wealthy inhabitants oppos'd any addition, being against all paper currency, from an apprehension that it would depreciate, as it had done in New England, to the prejudice of all creditors.
富裕阶层反对增添纸币,他们反对一切纸币,由于他们害怕纸币会使货币贬值,像在新英格兰发生的那样,致使债权人处于不利地位。
We had discuss'd this point in our Junto, where I was on the side of an addition, being persuaded that the first small sum struck in 1723 had done much good by increasing the trade, employment, and number of inhabitants in the province,
我们在我们的“密社”中曾经讨论过这一个问题,当时我赞成增发纸币,因为我相信1723年所铸造的小量货币做了不少好事,它促进了商业和就业,增加了本州的居民,
since I now saw all the old houses inhabited, and many new ones building: whereas I remembered well, that when I first walk'd about the streets of Philadelphia, eating my roll, I saw most of the houses in Walnut Street, between Second and Front streets, with bills on their doors, "To be let";
因为我现在看到所有的老房子都住满了人,许多新房子在建筑中,但是我记得很清楚,当我首次吃着我的面包卷走在费城街上的时候,我看见在胡桃街从第二街到前街这一段街道上的大多数房屋都在门上贴着招租条子,
and many likewise in Chestnut-street and other streets, which made me then think the inhabitants of the city were deserting it one after another.
在板栗街和其他街道上的许多房屋也是如此,这种情形当时使我以为费城的居民正在不断地离开这一城市。
Our debates possess'd me so fully of the subject, that I wrote and printed an anonymous pamphlet on it, entitled "The Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency."
我们的辩论使我对于这一题目感到很大的兴趣,甚至我撰写和发表了一本不具名的小册子,名为《纸币的性质和需要》。
It was well receiv'd by the common people in general; but the rich men dislik'd it, for it increas'd and strengthen'd the clamor for more money, and they happening to have no writers among them that were able to answer it, their opposition slacken'd, and the point was carried by a majority in the House.
普通的百姓很欢迎它,但是有钱人不喜欢它,因为它增大和加强了增加货币的呼喊,碰巧在富人这边他们没有作家能够回答这一小册子,因此他们的反抗减弱了。这样,增发纸币这一议案就在州议会中以大多数通过了。
My friends there, who conceiv'd I had been of some service, thought fit to reward me by employing me in printing the money; a very profitable jobb and a great help to me.
我在州议会中的朋友们想到我对这一议案的通过有些贡献,认为应当由我来承印纸币,作为酬答,这是一宗利润很厚的生意,对我帮助很大。
This was another advantage gain'd by my being able to write.
这是我会写文章的又一个好处。
The utility of this currency became by time and experience so evident as never afterwards to be much disputed;
经过时间和经验的考验,纸币的效用变得十分明显,以后就没有引起很多的争辩。
so that it grew soon to fifty-five thousand pounds, and in 1739 to eighty thousand pounds, since which it arose during war to upwards of three hundred and fifty thousand pounds, trade, building, and inhabitants all the while increasing, tho' I now think there are limits beyond which the quantity may be hurtful.
结果,不久纸币发行额就达到了五千镑,1739年到了八万镑,以后在战争期间超过了三十五万镑,因为商业、建筑和居民的人数都在不断地增多,虽然现在我想纸币发行额有一限度,过了这一限度就可能有害了。
I soon after obtain'd, thro' my friend Hamilton, the printing of the Newcastle paper money, another profitable jobb as I then thought it; small things appearing great to those in small circumstances; and these, to me, were really great advantages, as they were great encouragements.
不久以后通过我的朋友汉密顿,我获得承印纽开色纸币的生意。照我当时的看法,这又是一宗赚钱的生意,因为对于穷人来说,小事情就显得很重大了。这些生意对我实在是大有裨益的,因为它们大有利可图。
He procured for me, also, the printing of the laws and votes of that government, which continu'd in my hands as long as I follow'd the business.
汉密顿也替我招揽了承印纽开色政府法律和选举票的生意,这宗生意到我离开印刷业之前一直在我手中。