Benjamin Franklin as a Man of Letters

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PHILADELPHIA,
October, 1887.

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.

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

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"

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

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' ""
168-188

CHAPTER VII.

1764-1776.

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."

66 An Edict

of the King of Prussia." Visits France. First Eng-
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

relative to the English National Debt"; "A Dialogue

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.
"Mar-
tin's Account of his Consulship." His death.