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Indeed I had some cause to believe that the defense of the country was not disagreeable to any of them, provided they were not requir'd to assist in it.
其实，我相信假如我们不要求州议会积极协助的话，他们当中任何人也不是不赞成国防建设的。
And I found that a much greater number of them than I could have imagined, tho' against offensive war, were clearly for the defensive.
我发现有很多人，虽然他们反对侵略性的战争，但是却不反对防御性的战事，这种人比我预料的多得多。
Many pamphlets pro and con were publish'd on the subject, and some by good Quakers, in favour of defense, which I believe convinc'd most of their younger people.
关于国防这个问题双方发表了许多小册子，有一些赞成国防的小册子却是一些优秀的教友会教友写的，我相信这些文章说服了大多数年轻的教友会教友。
A transaction in our fire company gave me some insight into their prevailing sentiments.
关于我们的消防队，有这么一件事，使我了解了一些教友会之间流行的一种想法。
It had been propos'd that we should encourage the scheme for building a battery by laying out the present stock, then about sixty pounds, in tickets of the lottery.
有人提议为了资助炮台的建筑起见，我们应当用当时消防队的约六十镑的资金来购买彩票。
By our rules, no money could be dispos'd of till the next meeting after the proposal.
根据我们的规章，动用款项必须在建议提出后的下一届会议中通过。
The company consisted of thirty members, of which twenty-two were Quakers, and eight only of other persuasions.
消防队有三十个会员，其中二十二个是教友会教友，仅仅八个会员属于其他教派。
We eight punctually attended the meeting; but, tho' we thought that some of the Quakers would join us, we were by no means sure of a majority.
我们八个人准时出席了会议，虽然我们知道有一些教友会教友将站在我们这一边，但是究竟我们的主张能否获得多数通过我们毫无把握。
Only one Quaker, Mr. James Morris, appear'd to oppose the measure.
只有一个教友会教友，詹姆士·莫理斯先生，出席反对这一提案。
He expressed much sorrow that it had ever been propos'd, as he said Friends were all against it, and it would create such discord as might break up the company.
他对于这一提案的提出深表惋惜，因为他说所有教友会教友都反对这件事，它会引起争执，这种纷争或许会导致消防队的解散。
We told him that we saw no reason for that; we were the minority, and if Friends were against the measure, and outvoted us, we must and should, agreeably to the usage of all societies, submit.
我们告诉他我们想不至于的，因为我们是少数，假如教友会教友反对这一提案，在投票时胜过了我们，按照议事规程我们必须服从多数，而且也应该如此。
When the hour for business arriv'd it was mov'd to put the vote; he allow'd we might then do it by the rules, but, as he could assure us that a number of members intended to be present for the purpose of opposing it, it would be but candid to allow a little time for their appearing.
讨论议案的时候到了，就有人提议进行表决，他承认按照规章我们可以在那时表决，但是因为他说他可以向我们证明有一些会员是打算来出席投反对票的，我们就应该稍稍等待他们一会儿。
While we were disputing this, a waiter came to tell me two gentlemen below desir'd to speak with me.
当我们正在争论时，一个侍者跑过来告诉我楼下有两位绅士找我谈话。
I went down, and found they were two of our Quaker members.
我跑到楼下一看，原来是我们消防队的两个教友会的会员。
They told me there were eight of them assembled at a tavern just by; that they were determin'd to come and vote with us if there should be occasion, which hop'd would not be the case,
他们告诉我有八位教友会的会员在附近的一家酒馆里，他们说假如有必要的话，他们一定会来开会和我们在一起投赞成票，但是他们希望不必这样做。
and desir'd we would not call for their assistance if we could do without it, as their voting for such a measure might embroil them with their elders and friends.
假如我们可以不需要他们的出席而通过议案，他们要求我们不要叫他们来协助，因为若是他们投票赞成这样一个措施，他们的长者和朋友们可能会责难他们。
Being thus secure of a majority, I went up, and after a little seeming hesitation, agreed to a delay of another hour.
这样我既然有了通过这一措施的把握，我就回到楼上去，假装踌躇一回以后，我就同意延迟一小时。
This Mr. Morris allow'd to be extreamly fair.
莫理斯先生认为这样做是十分公正的。
Not one of his opposing friends appear'd, at which he express'd great surprize; and, at the expiration of the hour, we carri'd the resolution eight to one;
但是他的投反对票的朋友一个也没有来，这就使他大为诧异，一小时后，我们就以八比一的多数通过了这一决议。
and as, of the twenty-two Quakers, eight were ready to vote with us, and thirteen, by their absence, manifested that they were not inclin'd to oppose the measure, I afterward estimated the proportion of Quakers sincerely against defense as one to twenty-one only; for these were all regular members of that society, and in good reputation among them, and had due notice of what was propos'd at that meeting.
因为在二十二个教友会教友中，八个愿意跟我们投赞成票，十三人不出席，表示他们不愿意投票反对，所以按照我的估计我认为真正反对国防的教友会教友的比例仅是一与二十一之比，因为这些人全是教友会的忠实信徒，在他们中间声誉颇好，而且也都知道这次开会要讨论的议程。
