Benjamin Franklin as a Man of Letters

PREFATORY NOTE.

My thanks are due to Dr. Samuel Green, of the Massachusetts Historical Society; to Mr. Theodore Dwight, of the Library of the Department of State at Washington; to Mr. Hildeburn, of the Philadelphia Athenæum ; and especially to Mr. Lindsay Swift, of the Boston Public Library, and Mr. F. D. Stone, of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, for the help so kindly given me when gathering the material for this Life of Franklin.

JOHN BACH MCMASTER.

PHILADELPHIA,

October, 1887.

₹

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

1706-1723.

Birth and early training. The newspapers and literature

of New England. The Dogood Papers. The departure

of Franklin from Boston

1-35

CHAPTER II.

1723-1729.

Franklin reaches Philadelphia; is employed by Keimer;

goes to London; writes a pamphlet, "Liberty and

Necessity"; comes back to Philadelphia; opens a

printing office; writes "The Busybody," and a pam-

phlet on "Paper Money "

36-64

CHAPTER IIL

1729-1748.

Buys Keimer's "Universal Instructor in all the Arts and

Sciences," and establishes the "Pennsylvania Gazette";

notable contributions; his "Parables" and "Biblical

Publishes "Poor Richard"; Father Abraham's Speech;

quarrels with Bradford; publishes the General Maga-

Franklin becomes interested in politics; his pamphlet

"Plain Truth"; his "Proposals relating to the Educa-

tion of Youth in Pennsylvania"; founds the University

of Pennsylvania; sells the printing house and the

newspaper; begins to study electricity; his scientific

papers; the Albany Plan of Union; "Dialogue between

X, Y, Z;" is sent to London by the Assembly of

Pennsylvania
136-167

CHAPTER VI.

1756-1764.

Political writings while in London; the pretended chap-

ter "On the Meanes of disposing the Enemie to Peace";

returns to Pennsylvania; massacre of the Indians;

Franklin's "Narrative of the Massacre"; the Paxton

raid; Franklin lampooned; his "Cool Thoughts"; his

"Preface to a Speech"; is lampooned by the Proprie-

tary Party; is defeated at the election for Assembly-

men; is sent to England with the Address to the

King; the Proprietary Party protest; Franklin writes

"Remarks on a Protest

Reaches London; conduct regarding the Stamp Act; has

Hughes made stamp collector; is lampooned for this;

his writings for the London newspapers; "Rules for

reducing a Great Empire to a Small One."
"An Edict

of the King of Prussia." Visits France.

lish edition of his works; Dubourg translates it into

French. The Hutchinson Letters. Abused before the

Privy Council. Delivers the Declaration of Rights, and

returns to Philadelphia; is elected to Congress 189-217

CHAPTER VIII.

1776-1790.

Is sent to France. Reception at Nantes; at Paris; by

the French people. His popularity. Writes "A Com-

parison of Great Britain and America";

"

A Catechism

A Dialogue

relative to the English National Debt ";

between Britain, France, Spain, Holland, Saxony, and

America." His way of life at Passy. The privateers.
Madame Helvetius. Madame Brillon. "The Baga-
telles." His mission ended. Returns to Philadelphia.
Writes "The Retort Courteous"; "Remarks on Send-
ing Felons to America"; "Likeness of the Anti-Feder-
alists to the Jews." His anti-slavery writings.
tin's Account of his Consulship." His death.

CHAPTER IX.

"Mar-

218-250

The Autobiography. Loss of the manuscript of the
first part. The manuscript recovered and continued.
Copies sent to England and France. Publication of the
first part at Paris. Translation of this into English.
Temple Franklin begins to edit the papers. Dr.
Price's edition with Steuben's "Life." Temple Frank-
lin accused of selling the papers. He finally publishes
a part. Loss of the unpublished papers. Their singu-
lar recovery. Bought by Mr. Stevens, and then by the
Government of the United States. Mr. Bigelow re-
covers the original manuscript of the Autobiography.
Changes made by Temple Franklin in the text. Its
popularity. The collected works. Franklin's place in
literature. Characteristics of his style; his versatility;
his philosophy. His letters. His greatness

251-282

Livros