The Works of Benjamin Franklin: Containing Several Political and Historical ... - Benjamin Franklin - Google Books

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Scheme of a Society for extending the Influence of Virtue. — Belief

in one God, the Immortality of the Soul, and future Rewards and

Punishments. Poor Richard's Almanac.-Rules for conducting

a Newspaper. Controversy concerning Hemphill, the Preach-

er. Studies the French, Italian, and Spanish Languages. -- Visits

Boston. The Junto. Chosen Clerk of the Assembly. - Ap-

pointed Postmaster of Philadelphia. Suggests Improvements in

the City Watch.- Establishes a Fire Company.

Forms an Intimacy with Whitefield. - Building erected for Preach-

ers of all Denominations. - Character of Whitefield, his Oratory

and Writings. - Partnerships in the Printing Business. - Propos-

es a Philosophical Society. - Takes an active Part in providing

Means of Defence in the Spanish War. — Forms an Association

for that Purpose. - Sentiments of the Quakers. James Logan.

-Anecdote of William Penn. -The Sect called Dunkers. - Re-

ligious Creeds.-New-invented Fireplace.

Proposals relating to the Education of Youth.-Subscriptions for that

Object. An Academy established. - Appointed one of the Trus-

tees for managing it. - Partnership with David Hall. - Electrical

Experiments. Chosen a Member of the Assembly. - A Com-

missioner for making a Treaty with the Indians.— Pennsylvania

Hospital. Writes in Favor of it, and procures Subscriptions. —

Advice to Gilbert Tennent. Suggests Plans for cleaning, paving,

and lighting the Streets of Philadelphia. - Project for cleaning

the Streets of London. -Appointed Postmaster-general for Amer-

ica. Receives the Degree of Master of Arts from Harvard and

Attends a General Convention at Albany, as a Delegate from Penn-

sylvania. - Proposes a Plan of Union for the Colonies, which is

adopted by the Convention. - Interview with Governor Shirley

at Boston.—Conversations with Governor Morris on Pennsylvania

Affairs. Assists Mr. Quincy in procuring Aids for New Eng-

land. Visits General Braddock's Army in Maryland. — Procures

Horses and Wagons to facilitate the March of the Army. — Ob-

tains Supplies for the Officers. - Character of Braddock. - Ac-

count of his Defeat in the Battle of the Monongahela. — Braddock

commends his Services in Letters to the Government. - These

Services poorly rewarded.— Society for the Relief and Instruction

of Germans in Pennsylvania.

Appointed One of the Commissioners for appropriating the public

Money for military Defence.- Proposes a Militia Bill, which pass-

es the Assembly. -Commissioned to take Charge of the Frontier,

and build a Line of Forts.- Marches at the Head of a Body of

Troops. Account of the March. - Operations at Gnadenhutten.

Indian Massacres. - Moravians at Bethlehem. Returns to

Philadelphia. - Chosen Colonel of a Regiment. - Journey to Vir-

ginia. - Declines accepting the Governor's Proposal to lead an

Expedition against Fort Duquesne.- Account of his Electrical

Discoveries. Chosen a Member of the Royal Society. - Receives

the Copley Medal.

Conversations with Governor Denny. — Disputes between the Gov-

ernor and Assembly. - Deputed by the Assembly to present a Pe-

tition to the King, and to act in England as an Agent for Penn-

sylvania. Meets Lord Loudoun in New York. - Anecdotes illus-

trating his Character. - Sails from New York. - Incidents of the

Voyage. Arrives in England.

BY JARED SPARKS.

State of Affairs in Pennsylvania. - Defects of the Government.

Legislation. Conduct of the Proprietaries.—Object of Franklin's

Agency in England. - Collinson, Miss Stevenson, Strahan, Gov-

ernor Shirley, Beccaria, Musschenbroek. Franklin's Interview

with the Proprietaries. He causes a Letter to be published re-

specting Pennsylvania. — Delays in his public Business. - He

travels in various Parts of England. - Visits the Place in which

his Ancestors were born. - Forms an Acquaintance with Bas-

kerville. Publishes the "Historical Review of Pennsylvania.”.

Authorship of that Work.

Franklin advises the Conquest of Canada. — His Scheme adopted by

the Ministry. Journey to Scotland. - Lord Kames, Robertson,

Hume. "Parable against Persecution." First published by

Lord Kames.- How far Franklin claimed to be its Author. — His

Mission brought to a favorable Termination.- Lord Mansfield's

Agency in the Affair.— Franklin's Sentiments in Regard to Can-

ada. - Writes a Pamphlet to show that it ought to be retained at

the Peace. Tour to the North of England. - Receives Public

Money for Pennsylvania. - Tour in Holland. - Experiments to

prove the Electrical Properties of Tourmalin. - Cold produced

by Evaporation. - Ingenious Theory for explaining the Causes

of Northeast Storms. - Invents a Musical Instrument, called the

Armonica. His Son appointed Governor of New Jersey. - Re-

turns to America.

Receives the Thanks of the Assembly. - Tour through the Middle

and Eastern Colonies. - Engages again in Public Affairs. — Mas-

sacre of Indians in Lancaster. - Franklin's Pamphlet on the Sub-

ject, and his Agency in pacifying the Insurgents. Colonel Bou-

quet's Account of his Public Services.- Disputes revived between

the Governor and the Assembly.. Militia Bill defeated. - The

Governor rejects a Bill in which the Proprietary Estates are taxed.

-The Assembly resolve to petition the King for a Change of Gov-

ernment. Petition drafted by Franklin. - Chosen Speaker of the

Assembly. Norris, Dickinson, Galloway. - Scheme for Stamp

Duties opposed by the Assembly. — Franklin is not elected to the

Assembly. Appointed Agent to the Court of Great Britain. -

Sails for England.

Origin of the Stamp Act. - Franklin's Opposition to it. His Re-

marks on the Passage of the Act, in a Letter to Charles Thomson.

-False Charges against him in Relation to this Subject. Dean

Tucker. Effects of the Stamp Act in America. — Franklin's Ex-

amination before Parliament. Stamp Act repealed. - Mr. Pitt. -

Declaratory Act. - American Paper Currency. - Franklin's An-

swer to Lord Hillsborough's Report against it. - New Scheme

for taxing the Colonies by supplying them with Paper Money.

Franklin travels in Holland and Germany. - His Ideas of the Na-

ture of the Union between the Colonies and Great Britain. - Plan

of a Colonial Representation in Parliament. - Franklin visits Paris.

-His "Account of the Causes of the American Discontents." -

Change of Ministry. Lord Hillsborough at the Head of the

C*

American Department. Rumor that Dr. Franklin was to have an

Office under him.

Dr. Franklin is appointed Agent for Georgia. - Causes the "Farmer's

Letters" to be republished in London. His Opinion of them.

Chosen President of the American Philosophical Society. - Pro-

motes the Culture of Silk in Pennsylvania. - Encourages his Coun-

trymen to adhere to their Non-importation Agreements. — Journey

to France. Appointed Agent for New Jersey. - His Answers

to Mr. Strahan's Queries. Repeal of some of the American Rev-

enue Acts. Intimations that he would be removed from Office.-

His Remarks on that Subject.-Chosen Agent for the Assembly

of Massachusetts. - Singular Interview with Lord Hillsborough.

Objectionable Footing on which the Colonial Agents were placed

by his Lordship.— Dr. Franklin makes a Tour through the North

of England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. His Reception by

Lord Hillsborough in Ireland.— Irish Parliament. — Richard Bache.

-Bishop of St. Asaph.

Dr. Franklin meditates a Return to America. - Singular Conduct of

Lord Hillsborough. - Walpole's Grant. Hillsborough's Report

against it. Franklin's Answer. - Reasons for settling a New

Colony west of the Alleganies. - Interview with Lord Hills-

borough at Oxford. — Franklin draws up the Report of a Commit-

tee appointed to examine the Powder Magazines at Purfleet.

Performs new Electrical Experiments. - Controversy about Point-

ed and Blunt Conductors. - Lord Dartmouth succeeds Lord Hills-

borough. His Character. - Franklin's Interview with him. - Pe-

titions from the Assembly of Massachusetts.. - Franklin writes a

Preface to the London Edition of the Boston Resolutions; also

"Rules for reducing a Great Empire to a Small One," and "An

Edict of the King of Prussia."- Abridges the Book of Common

Prayer. Experiments to show the Effect of Oil in smoothing

Waves. — Dubourg's Translation of his Writings.

Hutchinson's Letters. How they first became known to Franklin.

- His Motives for transmitting them to Massachusetts. - Proceed-

ings of the Assembly concerning them. Dr. Cooper's Remarks

on that Occasion. Petition for the Removal of Hutchinson and

Oliver presented by Franklin. - Duel between Temple and Whate-

ly. - Franklin's Declaration that the Letters had been transmitted

by him. Whately commences against him a Chancery Suit.-—

Proceedings of the Privy Council on the Petition. Further Ac-

count of those Proceedings. -Wedderburn's abusive Speech. —

The Petition rejected. — Franklin dismissed from his Place at the

Head of the American Postoffice.

Franklin remains in England to await the Result of the Continental

Congress. — Josiah Quincy, Junior. — Anecdotes. — Death of Dr.

Franklin's Wife. - Family Incidents. He receives and presents

the Petition of Congress.- Rejected by Parliament. — Galloway's

Plan of Union. — Franklin's Attempts to promote a Reconciliation

between the two Countries. — Visits Lord Chatham. — Remarks

on Independence. — Mrs. Howe. He draws up Articles as the

Basis of a Negotiation, at the Request of Dr. Fothergill and Mr.

Barclay. Interviews with Lord Howe respecting some Mode of

Reconciliation. He drafts another Paper for that Purpose. - Lord

Camden. Lord Chatham's Motion in Parliament.- Franklin's

Interviews with him in forming a Plan of Reconciliation. - This

Plan offered to Parliament, and rejected. - Negotiation resumed

and broken off. — Franklin sails from England and arrives in

Chosen a Member of Congress. — Proceedings of Congress. — Prep-

arations for Military Defence. - Petition to the King. — Franklin

assists in preparing for the Defence of Pennsylvania, as a Member

of the Committee of Safety. Drafts a Plan of Confederation. —

His Services in Congress. — Goes to the Camp at Cambridge on

a Committee from Congress.- Chosen a Member of the Pennsyl-

vania Assembly. - Writes Letters to Europe for the Committee

of Secret Correspondence. His Journey to Canada as a Com-

missioner from Congress. - Declaration of Independence. — An-

ecdotes. — President of the Convention of Pennsylvania for form-

ing a Constitution. - His Opinion of a Single Legislative Assem-

bly. His Correspondence with Lord Howe, and Interview with

him on Staten Island. - Appointed a Commissioner to the Court

of Versailles. - Lends Money to Congress.

Voyage to France. - Arrives at Nantes. Proceeds to Paris, and

takes up his Residence at Passy. - His Reception in France. -

Influence of his Name and Character. - Pictures, Busts, and Prints

of him. Interview with Count de Vergennes. Money obtained

from the French Court, and Military Supplies sent to the United

States. Contract with the Farmers-General. — Franklin disap-

proves the Policy of seeking Alliances with the European Powers.

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