PART III.

Life of Franklin, continued by Dr. Stuber 191 Extracts from Franklin's Will 227

WRITINGS OF FRANKLIN.

The Examination of Dr. Franklin before the British House of Commons, relative to the Repeal of the American Stamp-act 237 Narrative of the Massacre of Friendly Indians in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1764 264 Introduction to Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania 282 Dr. Franklin's Motion for Prayers in the Convention at Philadelphia, 1787, to revise the then existing Articles of Confederation 286

MEMOIRS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN; WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. With His Most Interesting Essays, Letters, And Miscellaneous Writings; Familiar, Moral, Political, Economical, And Philosophical. IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. II. (of II)

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME ESSAYS Page The Way to Wealth; as clearly shown in the practice of an old Pennsylvania Almanac, entitled, "Poor Richard Improved" 5 On True Happiness 14 Public Men 16 The Waste of Life 22 Self-denial not the Essence of Virtue 25 On the Usefulness of the Mathematics 27 The Art of procuring Pleasant Dreams 31 Advice to a young Tradesman 37 Rules of Health 39 The Ephemera; an Emblem of Human Life. To Madame Brillon, of Passy 40 The Whistle. To Madame Brillon 42 On Luxury, Idleness, and Industry 45 On Truth and Falsehood 50 Necessary Hints to those that would be Rich 53 The Way to make Money plenty in every Man's Pocket 54 The Handsome and Deformed Leg 55 On Human Vanity 58 On Smuggling, and its various Species 62 Remarks concerning the Savages of North America 66 On Freedom of Speech and the Press 71 On the Price of Corn and the Management of the Poor 82 Singular Custom among the Americans, entitled Whitewashing 86 On the Criminal Laws and the Practice of Privateering 94 Letter from Anthony Afterwit 102 LETTERS To Mrs. Abiah Franklin 107 To Miss Jane Franklin 108 To the same 109 To Mr. George Whitefield 110 To Mrs. D. Franklin 112 To the same 113 To Mrs. Jane Mecom 114 To the same 115 To the same 116 To Miss Stevenson 119 To Lord Kames 120 To the same 121 To the same 128 To John Alleyne 130 To Governor Franklin 132 To Dr. Priestley 134 To the same 136 To Mr. Mather 137 To Mr. Strahan 138 To Dr. Priestley 138 To Mrs. Thompson 139 To Mr. Lith 142 Answer to a Letter from Brussels 144 To Dr. Price 151 To Dr. Priestley 152 To General Washington 154 To M. Court de Gebelin 156 To Francis Hopkinson 158 To Francis Hopkinson 159 To Samuel Huntingdon, President of Congress 160 To the Bishop of St. Asaph 162 To Miss Alexander 163 To Benjamin Vaughan 164 To Mrs. Hewson 166 To David Hartley 167 To Dr. Percival 168 To Sir Joseph Banks 169 To Robert Morris, Esq. 171 To Dr. Mather 172 To William Strahan, M.P. 174 To George Wheatley 178 To David Hartley 181 To the Bishop of St. Asaph 181 To Mrs. Hewson 184 To M. Veillard 185 To Mr. Jordain 187 To Miss Hubbard 189 To George Wheatley 190 To B. Vaughan 192 To the President of Congress 193 To Mrs. Green 196 To Dr. Price 197 To B. Vaughan 198 To Dr. Rush 199 To Miss Catharine Louisa Shipley 199 To * * * 200 Copy of the last Letter written by Dr. Franklin 201 PHILOSOPHICAL SUBJECTS To the Abb� Soulavie.�Theory of the Earth 203 To Dr. John Pringle.�On the different Strata of the Earth 207 To Mr. Bowdoin.�Queries and Conjectures relating to Magnetism and the Theory of the Earth 208 To M. Dubourg.�On the Nature of Seacoal 211 Causes of Earthquakes 212 To David Rittenhouse.�New and Curious Theory of Light and Heat 224 Of Lightning; and the Methods now used in America for the securing Buildings and Persons from its mischievous Effects 227 To Peter Collinson.�Electrical Kite 231 Physical and Meteorological Observations, Conjectures, and Suppositions 232 To Dr. Perkins.�Water-spouts and Whirlwinds compared 240 To Alexander Small.�On the Northeast Storms in North America 254 To Dr. Lining.�On Cold produced by Evaporation 256 To Peter Franklin.�On the Saltness of Seawater 263 To Miss Stephenson.�Salt Water rendered fresh by Distillation.�Method of relieving Thirst by Seawater 264 To the same.�Tendency of Rivers to the Sea.�Effects of the Sun's Rays on Cloths of different Colours 266 To the same.�On the Effect of Air on the Barometer, and the Benefits derived from the Study of Insects 270 To Dr. Joseph Priestley.�Effect of Vegetation on Noxious Air 273 To Dr. John Pringle.�On the Difference of Navigation in Shoal and Deep Water 274 To Oliver Neale.�On the Art of Swimming 277 To Miss Stephenson.�Method of contracting Chimneys.�Modesty in Disputation 281 To M. Dubourg.�Observations on the prevailing Doctrines of Life and Death 282 Lord Brougham's Portrait of Dr. Franklin 285

A U T O B I O G R A P H Y OF B E N J A M I N F R A N K L I N With Illustrations By E. Boyd Smith CONTENTS Introduction

vii The Autobiography

1 I.

Ancestry and Early Life in Boston

3 II.

Beginning Life as a Printer

21 III.

Arrival in Philadelphia

41 IV.

First Visit to Boston

55 V.

Early Friends in Philadelphia

69 VI.

First Visit to London

77 VII.

Beginning Business in Philadelphia

99 VIII.

Business Success and First Public Service

126 IX.

Plan for Attaining Moral Perfection

146 X.

Poor Richard's Almanac and Other Activities

169 XI.

Interest in Public Affairs

188 XII.

Defense of the Province

201 XIII.

Public Services and Duties

217 XIV.

Albany Plan of Union

241 XV.

Quarrels with the Proprietary Governors

246 XVI.

Braddock's Expedition

253 XVII.

Franklin's Defense of the Frontier

274 XVIII.

Scientific Experiments

289 XIX.

Agent of Pennsylvania in London

296 Appendix

Electrical Kite

327

The Way to Wealth

331

The Whistle

336

A Letter to Samuel Mather

340 Bibliography

343 ILLUSTRATIONS

Franklin at the Court of Louis XVI

Frontispiece

Page

Portrait of Franklin

vii

Pages 1 and 4 of The Pennsylvania Gazette, Number XL, the first number after Franklin took control

xxi

First page of The New England Courant of December 4-11, 1721

33

"I was employed to carry the papers thro' the streets to the customers"

36

"She, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous appearance"

48

"I took to working at press"

88

"I see him still at work when I go home from club"

120

Two pages from Poor Richard's Almanac for 1736

171

"I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common soldier"

204

"In the evening, hearing a great noise among them, the commissioners walk'd out to see what was the matter"

224

"Our axes ... were immediately set to work to cut down trees"

278

"We now appeared very wide, and so far from each other in our opinions as to discourage all hope of agreement"

318

"You will find it stream out plentifully from the key on the approach of your knuckle"

328

Father Abraham in his study

330

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Representative Selections, With Introduction, Bibliography, And Notes By Frank Luther Mott CONTENTS I. Franklin's Milieu: The Age of Enlightenment, xiii II. Franklin's Theories of Education, xxxii III. Franklin's Literary Theory and Practice, xlvi IV. Franklin as Printer and Journalist, lvii V. Franklin's Economic Views, lxiv VI. Franklin's Political Theories, lxxxii VII. Franklin as Scientist and Deist, cx Chronological Table, cxlii Selected Bibliography I. Works, cli II. Collections and Reprints, cliii III. Biographies, clv IV. Biographical and Critical Studies, clviii V. The Age of Franklin, clxxiv VI. Bibliographies and Check Lists, clxxxvi From the Autobiography, 3 Dogood Papers, No. I (1722), 96 Dogood Papers, No. IV (1722), 98 Dogood Papers, No. V (1722), 102 Dogood Papers, No. VII (1722), 105 Dogood Papers, No. XII (1722), 109 Editorial Preface to the New England Courant (1723), 111 A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain (1725), 114 Rules for a Club Established for Mutual Improvement (1728), 128 Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion (1728), 130 The Busy-Body, No. 1 (1728/9), 137 The Busy-Body, No. 2 (1728/9), 139 The Busy-Body, No. 3 (1728/9), 141 The Busy-Body, No. 4 (1728/9), 145 Preface to the Pennsylvania Gazette (1729), 150 A Dialogue between Philocles and Horatio (1730), 152 A Second Dialogue between Philocles and Horatio (1730), 156 A Witch Trial at Mount Holly (1730), 161 An Apology for Printers (1731), 163 Preface to Poor Richard (1733), 169 A Meditation on a Quart Mugg (1733), 170 Preface to Poor Richard (1734), 172[x] Preface to Poor Richard (1735), 174 Hints for Those That Would Be Rich (1736), 176 To Josiah Franklin (April 13, 1738), 177 Preface to Poor Richard (1739), 179 A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge among the British Plantations in America (1743), 180 Shavers and Trimmers (1743), 183 To the Publick (1743), 186 Preface to Logan's Translation of "Cato Major" (1743/4), 187 To John Franklin, at Boston (March 10, 1745), 188 Preface to Poor Richard (1746), 189 The Speech of Polly Baker (1747), 190 Preface to Poor Richard (1747), 193 To Peter Collinson (August 14, 1747), 194 Preface to Poor Richard Improved (1748), 195 Advice to a Young Tradesman (1748), 196 To George Whitefield (July 6, 1749), 198 Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania (1749), 199 Idea of the English School (1751), 206 To Cadwallader Colden Esq., at New York (1751), 213 Exporting of Felons to the Colonies (1751), 214 Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries, Etc. (1751), 216 To Peter Collinson (October 19, 1752), 223 Poor Richard Improved (1753)�facsimile reproduction, 225 To Joseph Huey (June 6, 1753), 261 Three Letters to Governor Shirley (1754), 263 To Miss Catherine Ray, at Block Island (March 4, 1755), 270 To Peter Collinson (August 25, 1755), 272 To Miss Catherine Ray (September 11, 1755), 274 To Miss Catherine Ray (October 16, 1755), 277 To Mrs. Jane Mecom (February 12, 1756), 278 To Miss E. Hubbard (February 23, 1756), 278 To Rev. George Whitefield (July 2, 1756), 279 The Way to Wealth (1758), 280 To Hugh Roberts (September 16, 1758), 289 To Mrs. Jane Mecom (September 16, 1758), 291 To Lord Kames (May 3, 1760), 293 To Miss Mary Stevenson (June 11, 1760), 295 To Mrs. Deborah Franklin (June 27, 1760), 298 To Jared Ingersoll (December 11, 1762), 300 To Miss Mary Stevenson (March 25, 1763), 301 To John Fothergill, M.D. (March 14, 1764), 304 To Sarah Franklin (November 8, 1764), 307 From A Narrative of the Late Massacres in Lancaster County (1764), 308[xi] To the Editor of a Newspaper (May 20, 1765), 315 To Lord Kames (June 2, 1765), 318 Letter Concerning the Gratitude of America (January 6, 1766), 321 To Lord Kames (April 11, 1767), 325 To Miss Mary Stevenson (September 14, 1767), 330 On the Labouring Poor (1768), 336 To Dupont de Nemours (July 28, 1768), 340 To John Alleyne (August 9, 1768), 341 To the Printer of the London Chronicle (August 18, 1768), 343 Positions to be Examined, Concerning National Wealth (1769), 345 To Miss Mary Stevenson (September 2, 1769), 347 To Joseph Priestley (September 19, 1772), 348 To Miss Georgiana Shipley (September 26, 1772), 349 To Peter Franklin (undated), 351 On the Price of Corn, and Management of the Poor (undated), 355 An Edict by the King of Prussia (1773), 358 Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One (1773), 363 To William Franklin (October 6, 1773), 371 Preface to "An Abridgment of the Book of Common Prayer" (1773), 374 A Parable against Persecution, 379 A Parable on Brotherly Love, 380 To William Strahan (July 5, 1775), 381 To Joseph Priestley (July 7, 1775), 382 To a Friend in England (October 3, 1775), 383 To Lord Howe (July 30, 1776), 384 The Sale of the Hessians (1777), 387 Model of a Letter of Recommendation (April 2, 1777), 389 To �� (October 4, 1777), 390 To David Hartley (October 14, 1777), 390 A Dialogue between Britain, France, Spain, Holland, Saxony and America, 394 To Charles de Weissenstein (July 1, 1778), 397 The Ephemera (1778), 402 To Richard Bache (June 2, 1779), 404 Morals of Chess (1779), 406 To Benjamin Vaughan (November 9, 1779), 410 The Whistle (1779), 412 The Lord's Prayer (1779?), 414 The Levée (1779?), 417 Proposed New Version of the Bible (1779?), 419 To Joseph Priestley (February 8, 1780), 420 To George Washington (March 5, 1780), 421 To Miss Georgiana Shipley (October 8, 1780), 422[xii] To Richard Price (October 9, 1780), 423 Dialogue between Franklin and the Gout (1780), 424 The Handsome and Deformed Leg (1780?), 430 To Miss Georgiana Shipley (undated), 432 To David Hartley (December 15, 1781), 434 Supplement to the Boston Independent Chronicle (1782), 434 To John Thornton (May 8, 1782), 443 To Joseph Priestley (June 7, 1782), 443 To Jonathan Shipley (June 10, 1782), 445 To James Hutton (July 7, 1782), 447 To Sir Joseph Banks (September 9, 1782), 448 Information to Those Who Would Remove to America (1782?), 449 Apologue (1783?), 458 To Sir Joseph Banks (July 27, 1783), 459 To Mrs. Sarah Bache (January 26, 1784), 460 An Economical Project (1784?), 466 To Samuel Mather (May 12, 1784), 471 To Benjamin Vaughan (July 26, 1784), 472 To George Whately (May 23, 1785), 479 To John Bard and Mrs. Bard (November 14, 1785), 481 To Jonathan Shipley (February 24, 1786), 481 To �� (July 3, 1786?), 484 Speech in the Convention; On the Subject of Salaries (1787), 486 Motion for Prayers in the Convention (1787), 489 Speech in the Convention at the Conclusion of Its Deliberations (1787), 491 To the Editors of the Pennsylvania Gazette (1788), 493 To Rev. John Lathrop (May 31, 1788), 496 To the Editor of the Federal Gazette (1788?), 496 To Charles Carroll (May 25, 1789), 500 An Account of the Supremest Court of Judicature in Pennsylvania, viz. the Court of the Press (1789), 501 An Address to the Public (1789), 505 To David Hartley (December 4, 1789), 506 To Ezra Stiles (March 9, 1790), 507 On the Slave-Trade (1790), 510 Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America, 513 An Arabian Tale, 519 A Petition of the Left Hand (date unknown), 520 Some Good Whig Principles (date unknown), 521 The Art of Procuring Pleasant Dreams, 523 Notes, 529