responsive to science as a basis for rationalistic deism, although to
a considerable extent Methodism and deism synchronized in their
endeavor to relieve social suffering. See U. Lee's able study, _The
Historical Backgrounds of Early Methodist Enthusiasm_ (New York,
1931).
[i-471] Rev. L. Tyerman, _Life of the Reverend George Whitefield_
(London, 1876), I, 439.
[i-472] _Ibid._, II, 283-4.
[i-473] _Ibid._, II, 540-1.
[i-474] _Ibid._, II, 541.
[i-475] See H. H. Clark's "An Historical Interpretation of Thomas
Paine's Religion," _University of California Chronicle_, XXXV, 56-87
(Jan., 1933), and "Toward a Reinterpretation of Thomas Paine,"
_American Literature_, V, 133-45 (May, 1933).
[i-476] _Writings_, IX, 520.
[i-477] _Ibid._, VIII, 561. See also IX, 506.
[i-478] Aug. 22, 1784; unpublished letter in W. S. Mason Collection.
Also see _Writings_, VIII, 113; IX, 476, 488, 621.
[i-479] I. W. Riley, _American Thought from Puritanism to Pragmatism_,
76.
[i-480] Parton, _op. cit._, I, 546.
[i-481] He admonished Deborah, his wife, that she "should go oftener
to Church" (_Writings_, IV, 202), and his daughter, Sarah, "Go
constantly to Church, whoever preaches" (_Ibid._, IV, 287).
[i-482] _Letters to Benjamin Franklin from His Family and Friends,
1751-1790_ (New York, 1859), 10.
[i-483] Franklin's English friends, Dr. Richard Price, Joseph
Priestley, Rev. David Williams, Dr. John Fothergill, Peter Collinson,
Sir Joseph Banks, Jonathan Shipley, Lord Kames, Sir William Jones, et
cetera, though not all deists, found Newtonian science useful in
augmenting their philosophies.
[i-484] _A Discourse ..._ (London, 1775), 33. For background material
on the history of this concept see L. E. Hicks, _A Critique of
Design-Arguments_ (New York, 1883).
[i-485] N. Meredith, _Considerations on the Utility of Conductors for
Lightning ..._ (London, 1789), 44-5. See especially the characteristic
notice in _Monthly Review ..._, XLII (London, 1770), 199-210, 298-308.
[i-486] For references see B. Faÿ, _The Revolutionary Spirit in France
and America_; E. E. Hale and E. E. Hale, Jr., _Franklin in France_; L.
Amiable, _Un loge maçonnique d'avant 1789 ..._.
[i-487] _Writings_, IX, 436.
[i-488] W. T. Franklin ed. of Franklin's _Writings_ (London, 1818), I,
433.
[i-489] See similar expression in letter to Mme Brillon, cited in J.
M. Stifler, _The Religion of Benjamin Franklin_, 55-6.
[i-490] _Writings_, III, 135.
_CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE_
1706. Benjamin Franklin born in Boston, January 17 (January 6,
1705, O. S.).
1714-16. After a year in Boston Grammar School is sent to learn
writing and arithmetic in school kept by George Brownell, from
which, after a year, he is taken to assist his father, Josiah,
a candlemaker.
1717. James Franklin returns from England, following apprenticeship
as printer.
1718. Benjamin is apprenticed to brother James.
1718-23. Period of assiduous reading in Anthony Collins,
Shaftesbury, Locke, Addison and Steele, Cotton Mather, Bunyan,
Defoe, etc.
1719. Writes and hawks ballads of the "Grub-Street" style, "The
Lighthouse Tragedy" and "The Taking of Teach the Pirate."
1721-23. Aids brother in publishing the _New England Courant_.
During 1722-23 in charge of paper after James is declared
objectionable by the authorities.
1722. His _Dogood Papers_ printed anonymously in the _New England
Courant_.
1723. Breaks his indentures and leaves for New York; eventually
arrives in Philadelphia.
1723-24. Employed by Samuel Keimer, a printer in Philadelphia.
1724. Visits Cotton Mather and Governor Burnet (New York). Meets
James Ralph, Grub-Street pamphleteer, historian, and poet in
the Thomson tradition. Patronized by Governor Keith. Leaves
for London in November on the _London-Hope_ to buy type, etc.,
for printing shop to be set up in his behalf by Keith. Upon
arrival he and Ralph take lodgings in Little Britain.
1725-26. Employed in Palmer's and Watts's printing houses.
1725. Publishes _A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure
and Pain_. One result of this is acquaintance with Lyons,
author of _The Infallibility of Human Judgement_. Through him
Franklin meets Bernard Mandeville and Dr. Henry Pemberton, who
is preparing a third edition of Sir Isaac Newton's
_Principia_. Is received by Sir Hans Sloane in Bloomsbury
Square. Conceives of setting up a swimming school in London.
1726. On July 21, with Mr. Denham, merchant and Quaker, leaves for
Philadelphia on the _Berkshire_. Between July 22 and October
11 writes _Journal of a Voyage from London to Philadelphia_.
Employed by Denham until latter's death in 1727.
1727. Ill of pleurisy and composes his epitaph. After recovery
returns to Keimer's printing house. Forms his Junto club.
Employed in Burlington, New Jersey, on a job of printing paper
money.
1728. Forms partnership with Hugh Meredith. Writes _Articles of
Belief and Acts of Religion_, and _Rules for a Club_--his
Junto club "Constitution."
1729. Buys Keimer's _The Universal Instructor in all Arts and
Sciences: and Pennsylvania Gazette_ (begun December 24, 1728).
Changes name to _Pennsylvania Gazette_, first issue, XL,
September 25-October 2, 1729. (Published by Franklin until
1748, by Franklin and David Hall from 1748 to 1766, after
which Hall, until his death, and others publish it until
1815.) Contributes to _American Weekly Mercury_ six papers of
_The Busy-Body_, February 4, 1729-March 27, 1729. Writes and
prints _A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a
Paper Currency_.
1730. Appointed Public Printer by Pennsylvania Assembly (incumbent
until 1764). Partnership with Meredith dissolved. Marries
Deborah Read (Mrs. Rogers). Prints in _Pennsylvania Gazette_
his _Dialogues between Philocles and Horatio_.
1731. First public venture: founds the Philadelphia Library Company,
first subscription library in America. Begins partnership
with Thomas Whitemarsh, Charleston, S. C. (1732, publishes
_South Carolina Gazette_.) Begins Masonic affiliations: enters
St. John's Lodge in February. William Franklin born.
1732. Begins _Poor Richard's Almanack_ (for 1733). His son Francis
Folger Franklin born (dies of smallpox in 1736). Elected
junior grand warden of St. John's Lodge.
1733. Begins to study languages, French, Italian, Spanish, and
continues Latin.
1734. Elected grand master of Masons of Pennsylvania for 1734-35.
Reprints Anderson's _Constitutions_, first Masonic book
printed in America.
1735. Writes and prints three pamphlets in defense of Rev. Mr.
Hemphill. Prints, in the _Pennsylvania Gazette_, _Protection
of Towns from Fire_. Secretary of St. John's Lodge until 1738.
Writes introduction for and prints Logan's _Cato's Moral
Distiches_, first classic translated and printed in the
colonies.
1736. Establishes the Union Fire Company, the first in Philadelphia.
Chosen clerk of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
1737. Appointed postmaster of Philadelphia (incumbent until 1753);
also justice of the peace.
1739. Beginning of friendship with the Reverend George Whitefield.
1740. Announces (November 13) _The General Magazine and Historical
Chronicle_.
1741. Six issues (January-June) of this magazine (the first planned
and the second issued in the colonies). With J. Parker
establishes a printing house in New York.
1742. Invents Franklin open stove.
1743. _A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge among the British
Plantations in America_ (circular letter sent to his friends).
1744. Establishes the American Philosophical Society and becomes its
first secretary. Daughter Sarah born. _An Account of the New
Invented Pennsylvanian Fire-places._ Writes preface to and
prints Logan's translation of Cicero's _Cato Major_. Reprints
Richardson's _Pamela_. Father dies.
1746. _Reflections on Courtship and Marriage_, first of his writings
reprinted in Europe. Peter Collinson sends a Leyden vial as
gift to Library Company of Philadelphia. Having witnessed Dr.
Spence's experiments, Franklin now begins his study of
electricity.
1747. _Plain Truth: or, Serious Considerations on the Present State
of the City of Philadelphia, and Province of Pennsylvania._
1748. Withdraws from active service in his printing and bookselling
house (Franklin and Hall). _Advice to a Young Tradesman._
Chosen member of the Council of Philadelphia.
1749. Appointed provincial grand master of colonial Masons (through
1750). _Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in
Pensilvania._ Founds academy which later develops into
University of Pennsylvania. Reprints Bolingbroke's _On the
Spirit of Patriotism_.
1750. Appointed as one of the commissioners to make treaty with the
Indians at Carlisle.
1751. _Experiments and Observations on Electricity, made at
Philadelphia in America, By Mr. Benjamin Franklin, and
Communicated in several Letters to Mr. P. Collinson, of
London, F. R. S._ (London.) _Idea of the English School,
Sketch'd out for the Consideration of the Trustees of the
Philadelphia Academy._ Member of Assembly from Philadelphia
(incumbent until 1764). _Observations Concerning the Increase
of Mankind, Peopling of Countries, Etc._ Aids Dr. Bond to
establish Pennsylvania hospital.
1752. Collinson edition of Franklin's works translated into French.
Alleged kite experiment proves identity of lightning and
electricity. Invents lightning rod; in September raises one
over his own house. Mother dies. Aids in establishing the
first fire insurance company in the colonies.
1753. Appointed (jointly with William Hunter) deputy postmaster
general of North America Post, a position he held until 1774.
Makes ten-weeks' survey of roads and post offices in northern
colonies. Abbé Nollet attacks Franklin in _Lettres sur
l'électricité_ (Paris). Beccaria defends Franklin's electrical
theories against Abbé Nollet. Receives M. A. from Harvard and
from Yale. Receives Sir Godfrey Copley medal from the Royal
Society.
1754. Proposes Albany Plan of Union. Second edition of _Experiments
and Observations on Electricity_.
1755. _An Act for the Better Ordering and Regulating such as are
Willing and Desirous to be United for Military Purposes within
the Province of Pennsylvania._ _A Dialogue Between X, Y, & Z,
concerning the Present State of Affairs in Pennsylvania._ Aids
General Braddock in getting supplies and transportation.
1756. Supervises construction efforts in province of Pennsylvania (a
task begun in 1755). Chosen Fellow of the Royal Society of
London. Chosen a member of the London Society of Arts. _Plan
for Settling the Western Colonies in North America, with
Reasons for the Plan._ M. D'Alibard's edition of Franklin's
electrical experiments (French translation). Receives M. A.
from William and Mary College.
1757. Appointed colonial agent for Province of Pennsylvania (arrives
in London July 26). _The Way to Wealth_ (for 1758). (In 1889
Ford noted: "Seventy editions of it have been printed in
English, fifty-six in French, eleven in German, and nine in
Italian. It has been translated into Spanish, Danish, Swedish,
Welsh, Polish, Gaelic, Russian, Bohemian, Dutch, Catalan,
Chinese, Modern Greek and Phonetic writing. It has been
printed at least four hundred times, and is today as popular
as ever.")
1759. Receives Doctor of Laws degree from University of St. Andrews.
September 5, made burgess and guild-brother of Edinburgh. _An
Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of
Pennsylvania._ (See Ford, pp. 110-111, where he suggests that
this "must still be treated as from Franklin's pen.") _Parable
against Persecution._ Meets Adam Smith, Hume, Lord Kames,
etc., in home of Dr. Robertson at Edinburgh. Makes many
electrical experiments. Chosen honorary member of
Philosophical Society of Edinburgh.
1760. Provincial grand master of Pennsylvania Masons. _The Interest
of Great Britain Considered with Regard to Her Colonies._
Elected to society of Dr. Bray's Associates. (Corresponding
member until 1790.) Successful close of his issue with the
proprietaries.
1761. Tour of Holland and Belgium.
1762. Receives degree of Doctor of Civil Law from Oxford. Leaves
England in August, arrives in America in October.
1763. Travels through colonies to inspect and regulate post offices.
1764. Appointed agent for Province of Pennsylvania to petition king
for change from proprietary to royal government. Leaves for
London in November. _Cool Thoughts on the Present Situation of
Our Public Affairs._ _A Narrative of the Late Massacres in
Lancaster County._ _Preface to the Speech of Joseph Galloway,
Esq._
1765. Presents Grenville with resolution of Pennsylvania Assembly
against Stamp Act.
1766. Examined in House of Commons relative to repeal of the Stamp
Act. _Physical and Meteorological Observations._ With Sir John
Pringle visits Germany and Holland (June-August). Chosen
foreign member of the Royal Society of Sciences, Göttingen.
1767. With Sir John Pringle visits France (August 28-October 8).
Meets French Physiocrats. _Remarks and Facts Concerning
American Paper Money._
1768. Preface to _Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania_ (J.
Dickinson). _A Scheme for a New Alphabet and Reformed Mode of
Spelling._ _Causes of the American Discontents before 1768._
_Art of Swimming._ Appointed London agent for colony of
Georgia.
1769. Visits France (July-August). Appointed New Jersey agent in
London. Elected first president of the American Philosophical
Society.
1770. Appointed London agent for Massachusetts Assembly.
1771. Begins _Autobiography_ (from 1706 to 1731) while visiting the
Bishop of St. Asaph at Twyford. Three-months' tour of Ireland
and Scotland. Entertained by Hume and Lord Kames. Chosen
corresponding member of Learned Society of Sciences,
Rotterdam.
1772. Chosen foreign member of Royal Academy of Sciences of Paris.
1773. _Abridgement of the Book of Common Prayer_ (with Sir Francis
Dashwood). _Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a
Small One._ M. Barbeu Dubourg's edition of _OEuvres de M.
Franklin_. Sends Hutchinson-Oliver letters to Massachusetts.
1774. Examined by Wedderburn before the Privy Council (January 29)
in regard to the Hutchinson-Oliver correspondence. Contributes
notes to George Whately's second edition of _Principles of
Trade_. Dismissed as deputy postmaster general of North
America. Deborah Franklin dies December 19.
1775. First postmaster general under Confederation. Returns to
America in May. Member of Philadelphia Committee of Safety.
Chosen a delegate to second Continental Congress. _An Account
of Negotiations in London for Effecting a Reconciliation
between Great Britain and the American Colonies._ Appointed
member of Committee of Secret Correspondence.
1776. A commissioner to Canada. Presides over Constitutional
Convention of Pennsylvania. Appointed one of committee to
frame Declaration of Independence. In September appointed one
of three commissioners from Congress to the French court.
Leaves Philadelphia October 27; reaches Paris December 21.
1777. Elected member of Loge des Neuf Soeurs. Chosen associate
member of Royal Medical Society of Paris.
1778. Assists at initiation of Voltaire in Loge des Neuf Soeurs.
Officiates at Masonic funeral service of Voltaire. Signs
commercial treaty and alliance for mutual defense with France.
_The Ephemera._ Altercation with Arthur Lee.
1779. Minister plenipotentiary to French court. _The Whistle._
_Morals of Chess._ B. Vaughan edits Franklin's _Political,
Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces_.
1780. _Dialogue between Franklin and the Gout._
1781. Chosen Fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences:
elected foreign member of Academy of Sciences, Letters, and
Arts of Padua, for work in natural philosophy and politics.
Appointed one of the peace commissioners to negotiate treaty
of peace between England and United States.
1782. Elected Venerable of Loge des Neuf Soeurs.
1783. Signs treaty with Sweden. Prints _Constitutions of the United
States_. Elected Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of
Edinburgh. Interest in balloons. Signs the Treaty of Paris
with John Jay and John Adams.
1784. With Le Roy, Bailly, Guillotin, Lavoisier, and others,
investigates Mesmer's animal magnetism (results in numerous
pamphlet reports). _Remarks Concerning the Savages of North
America. Advice to Such as Would Remove to America._ Chosen
member of Royal Academy of History, Madrid. At Passy resumes
work on _Autobiography_, beyond 1731.
1785. _Maritime Observations._ _On the Causes and Cure of Smoky
Chimneys._ Signs treaty of amity and commerce with Prussia.
Resigns as minister to French Court, and returns to
Philadelphia. President of Council of Pennsylvania (incumbent
for three years). Associate member of Academy of Sciences,
Literature, and Arts of Lyons. Councillor for Philadelphia
until 1788. Member of Philadelphia Society for the Promotion
of Agriculture, and Royal Society of Physics, National History
and Arts of Orleans, and honorary member of Manchester
Literary and Philosophical Society.
1786. Chosen corresponding member of Society of Agriculture of
Milan.
1787. President of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of
Slavery (incumbent until death). Pennsylvania delegate to
Constitutional Convention. Chosen honorary member of Medical
Society of London. Aids in establishing the Society for
Political Enquiry; elected its first president.
1788. At Philadelphia works on _Autobiography_, from 1731-1757.
1789. _Observations Relative to the Intentions of the Original
Founders of the Academy in Philadelphia_ and several papers in
behalf of abolition of slavery. At Philadelphia resumes
_Autobiography_, from 1757 to 1759. Chosen member of Imperial
Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg.
1790. Paper on the slave trade, _To the Editor of the Federal
Gazette_, March 23. Dies, April 17, in Philadelphia.
_SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY_
Starred items are of primary importance.
I. WORKS
Only the most useful and historically significant editions are here
listed. The student interested in other editions of Franklin's works,
the publication of his separate pamphlets, his contributions to
newspapers and periodicals, and his editorial activities should consult
P. L. Ford's _Franklin Bibliography_. Many of these items are
conveniently listed in _The Cambridge History of American Literature_,
I, 442 ff.
_Experiments and Observations on Electricity, made at Philadelphia in
America, By Mr. Benjamin Franklin, and Communicated in several
Letters to P. Collinson, of London, F. R. S._ London: 1751. (For
various editions and translations of this and the supplementary
letters added to first edition, consult Ford's _Bibliography_.)
_Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces; ... Written by
Benj. Franklin, LL. D. and F. R. S.... Now first collected, With
Explanatory Plates, Notes_, ... [ed. by Benjamin Vaughan]. London:
1779. ("The work is ably performed, many pieces being for the first
time printed as Franklin's; and contains valuable notes. But what
gives a special value to this collection is that it is the only
edition of Franklin's writings [other than his scientific], which was
printed during his life time; was done with Franklin's knowledge and
consent, and contains an 'errata' made by him for it" [Ford, p. 161].
Review in _Monthly Review_, LXII, 199-210, 298-308, describes his
electrical experiments as constituting a "_principia_" of electricity.
See also Smyth, VII, 410-13, for Franklin's own opinion.)
_Mémoires de la vie privée de Benjamin Franklin, écrits par luimême, et
adressés à son fils; suivis d'un précis historique de sa vie
politique, et de plusieurs pièces, relatives à ce père de la liberté._
Paris: 1791. (First edition of Franklin's _Autobiography_ to the year
1731; translation attributed to Dr. Jacques Gibelin. "The remainder of
his life is a translation from Wilmer's _Memoirs_ of Franklin, with
the most objectionable statements omitted" [Ford, p. 183]. For a
succinct history of _Autobiography_, editions, printing, translation,
and fortunes of the MS see Bigelow's introduction to _Autobiography_.)
_Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, LL. D. F. R. S.
&c.... Written by himself to a late period, and continued to the time
of his death, by his Grandson; William Temple Franklin. Now first
published from the original MSS...._ 3 vols. London: 1818. (The
standard collection, according to A. H. Smyth, until Sparks's edition.
Representative review in _Analectic Magazine_, XI, 449-84, June,
1818.)
_The Works of Benjamin Franklin; containing several political and
historical tracts not included in any former edition, and many letters
official and private not hitherto published; with notes and a life of
the author_, by Jared Sparks. 10 vols. Boston: 1836-1840. (Although
Sparks took undesirable editorial liberties with the MSS, rephrasing,
emending, and deleting, this edition still possesses value for its
notes and inclusion of pieces which Smyth does not include, but which
_may_ have been written by Franklin. Includes many valuable letters to
Franklin. For reviews see _North American Review_, LIX, 446, and
LXXXIII, 402.)
_Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Edited from his Manuscript, with
Notes and an Introduction_, by John Bigelow. Philadelphia: 1868. (To
quote Ford: "This is not only the first appearance of the
autobiography from Franklin's own copy, but also the first publication
in English of the four parts, and the first publication of the very
important 'outline' autobiography. It is therefore the first edition
of _the_ autobiography" [p. 199].)
_The Life of Benjamin Franklin, written by himself. Now first edited
from original manuscripts and from his printed correspondence and
other writings_, by John Bigelow. 3 vols. Philadelphia: 1874.
(Bigelow text of _Autobiography_ and extracts from Franklin's other
works.)
_The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin including his private as well
as his official and scientific correspondence, and numerous letters
and documents now for the first time printed with many others not
included in any former collection, also the unmutilated and correct
version of his autobiography._ Comp. and ed. by John Bigelow. 10 vols.
New York: 1887-1889. (Corrects many of Sparks's errors and adds "some
six hundred new pieces." For first time works are chronologically
arranged.)
*_The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, collected and edited with a Life
and Introduction_, by Albert Henry Smyth. 10 vols. New York:
1905-1907. (The standard edition. It is unfortunate that the editor
has omitted pieces which are either too Rabelaisian or too
metaphysically radical, such as the _Dissertation_ of 1725, or are, in
his mind, _probably_ not written by Franklin.)
II. COLLECTIONS AND REPRINTS
No attempt has been made to include the learned journal articles which
reprint occasional letters not in Smyth. Letters which aid in
understanding Franklin's mind have been referred to in the Introduction
and Notes.
Chinard, Gilbert. _Les amitiés américaines de Madame d'Houdetot,
d'après sa correspondance inédite avec Benjamin Franklin et Thomas
Jefferson._ Paris: 1924.
Diller, Theodore. _Franklin's Contribution to Medicine._ Brooklyn: 1912.
(Able collection of Franklin's letters bearing on medicine. Franklin
is described "as one of the greatest benefactors, friends, and patrons
of the medical profession as well as a most substantial contributor to
the science and art of medicine.")