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