THE LIFE

OF

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

BY

JEREMIAH CHAPLIN

AUTHOR OF THE LIFE OF HENRY DUNSTER, FIRST
PRESIDENT OF HARVARD COLLEGE,' LIFE

BOSTON

D LOTHROP COMPANY

FRANKLIN AND HAWLEY STREETS

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY
SHELDON FUND
JULY 10, 1940.

Copyright, 1876, by D. LOTHROP & Ca

M

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Franklin's Ancestry.- His Father.- Population of Massa-

chusetts. Boston in 1680.- Franklin's Home. -His

Father's Second Marriage. -Peter Folger.- His Moth-

er.

CHAPTER II.

13

Franklin's Birth.-Dr. Willard. - Uncle Benjamin.-His

Father's House.-Family Scene.-Population of Massa-

chusetts and of Boston.-Commerce of Boston.-Its So-

cial Character,- Madame Knight.- Franklin in his boy-

hood."Paying too much for the Whistle."-Sent to

Grammer School.-In his Father's Shop.-- Building a

Wharf. - Gets into Trouble. -Fond of Swimming.

Learning to Swim.-Swimming with a Kite.-Sleeping

on the Water in 1785.

CHAPTER III.

-

18

His Brother John.-Dislikes his Father's Trade.-Looking

for a Trade.-Fond of Books.- The Books he Read.—

Cotton Mather.- Becomes a Printer's Apprentice to his

Brother James.-Borrowing Books.-Writing Poetry and

Prose.-Improving his Style.-How he Bought Books.-

His Diet. The Character of his Reading.- Fond of Dis-

cussions.
28

CHAPTER IV.

The Newspaper in Franklin's Day.- A Newsboy.- Writing

for a Newspaper.- His Brother James a Hard Master.-

Benjamin becomes Manager of the Courant.- Resolves to

Break his Engagement.

35

CHAPTER V.

Runs Away.- Goes in a Sloop, to New York.- Vegetarian.

Principles Tested.- Eating Fish.- In New York.-Seeks

Employment at his Trade.-Goes to Philadelphia.-The

(1)

Voyage.—A Dutchman Overboard.— Stops at Burlington.

-Dr. Brown. Reaches Philadelphia. - Description of

the City.-Walking the Streets. —Eating Rolls.— Falls

Asleep in a Meeting-house. Bradford the Printer.

Keimer.

40

CHAPTER VI.

In Philadelphia.- Keimer.- Hears from Home.- Sir Wil-

liam Keith.-Keith becomes Franklin's Patron. -Keith's

Proposal to Franklin.— Brilliant Prospects.

CHAPTER VII.

50

A New Plan.- Retnrns to Boston.-Welcomed Home.-

Ill-treated by James.- Visits his Brother's Office.-Calls

on Cotton Mather.-Stooping.-His Father Disapproves

of Governor Keith's Plan.- Consents to his Return to

Philadelphia.-He Embarks for New York.- Visits his

Brother at Newport.- Mr. Vernon.- At New York.-

Collins.-Governor Burnet.- Incident on the Deleware.-

A Green Meadow.-Sad Experience with Collins.- Rup-

55

ture.

CHAPTER VIII.

In Philadelphia.- Calls on Governor Keith.- New Prom-

ises. Plan for Setting up in Business.- Vernon's Money.

- Keimer. Thoughts of Marriage. - Miss Read. -A

Prudent Mother.

CHAPTER IX.

64

Governor Keith.- Great Promises.- Never Ready.- Frank-

lin sails for England.- No Letters.- Discovers the Decep-

tion.- A Stranger in London.- Mr. Denham.- Franklin's

Opinion of Sir William Keith.-Ralph Again.- Frank-

lin Finds Employment.

CHAPTER X.

68

Relieved of a Burden. - A New Printing-Office. - The Wa-

ter-American.- Beer-Drinkers.- Initiation-Fee. - Frugal

Living.- New Lodgings.-A Catholic Lady.-Wygate.—

Denham. Hls Proposal to Franklin.

CHAPTER XI.

74

Leaves England.- His Journal,- An Adventure.- Playing

Cards. A Dutchman. - Talking to a Foreigner. - A

Trial. A Weary Bird.-Dolphins.- A Shark.- Land.-

Cape Henlopen.- Welcomed at Newcastle. - A Happy

Day.- At Home.

--

80

CHAPTER XII.

In Philadelphia.- A New Governor.- Sir William Keith.-

Miss Read.-Franklin in Business.- Mr. Denham.- Out

of Business.- Returns to Keimer.- Larger Wages.-The

Workmen.-George Webb.—Franklin Invents a Mould for

Casting Types.-Engraving.- Leaves Keimer.- Meredith.

A New Plan.- New Engagement with Keimer.- Print-

ing Paper money. - Franklin's Inventive Genius. — At

Burlington.-A Favorite.- New and Valuable Acquaint-

ances. Isaac Decow.-A Croaker.-Samuel Nickle.

Letter to his Sister.

CHAPTER XIII.

89

The Junto.-Its Members.-Queries. - Terms of Admis-

sion. Origin of American Philosophical Society. - His

Diligence.- Dr. Baird.

.

CHAPTER XIV.

-

99

His Newspaper Prospers. - Obtains the Public Printing.

Hears from Mr. Vernon. —A Difficulty. Fear of Fail-

nre.- Trouble from Meredith.-Separation.- Relief from

Friends.- Discussions in the Junto.- Demand for Paper

Money.- Writes on the Nature and Necessity of a Paper

Currency. Prints the Money.-Adds a Stationer's Shop.-

His Business Principles.- Uses a Wheelbarrow.- Keimer

goes to Barbadoes.-Mr. Bradford the only Rival.- Frank-

lin's Method of Resentment. Thinks of Matrimony.

Mrs. Godfrey as a Matchmaker.- "A Deserving Girl."-

Failure of the Plan.-Thinks of Miss Read.- Marriage.—

Letter to Mr. Mecum.- Remedy for Cancer.

-

CHAPTER XV.

-

105

Book-sellers.- A Library. Readers of Books in Philadel-

phia Public Library. -How he obtained Subscribers.-

Standing before Kings. -Improved Circumstances.
<-A

Good Wife.-A China Bowl and Silver Spoon.- Form of

Prayer.- Plan of Moral Perfection.- Catalogue of Moral

Virtues. Speckled Axe. - A Prayer.- Temperance and

other Virtues.-On Humility.-On Pride.-Good Reso-

lutions.- A United Party for Virtue.- A Creed.

CHAPTER XVI.

.

115

Poor Richard's Almanac. —Address to the Reader. - Enig-

matical I'rophecies.- Harangue at an Auction.

CHAPTER XVII.

129

Employment for Women.-Establishes a Printing-office in