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 by the Author ; by Jared Sparks

ligious Creeds.-New-invented Fireplace.

CHAPTER IX.

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 Governme it. These

Services poorly rewarded. Society for the Relief and Instruction

of Germans in Pennsylvania.

. 176

CHAPTER XI.

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.

CHAPTER XII.

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.

214

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.

CHAPTER II.

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.

247

CHAPTER III.

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.

270

CHAPTER IV.

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

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

Office under him.

290

CHAPTER V.

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.

316

CHAPTER VI.

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.

CHAPTER VII.

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.

CHAPTER VIII.

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

356

Philadelphia.

CHAPTER IX.

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.

CHAPTER X.

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.

Books

The Works of Benjamin Franklin: Containing Several Political and ..., Band 1