629
3

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 OF THE AUTHOR.

BY JARED SPARKS.

VOLUME III.

BOSTON:

CHARLES TAPPAN, PUBLISHER.

LOUISVILLE, KY.:

ALSTON MY GATT.

KF14870

HARVARD

UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Entered according to the act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, by HILLIARD, GRAY, AND Co., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

CAMBRIDGE:
METCALF AND COMPANY,

PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY.

. в

1997

тро

ESSAYS AND TRACTS, HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL,

BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Plain Truth; or Serious Considerations on the Present

State of the City of Philadelphia and Province of

Pennsylvania

Papers relating to a Plan of Union of the Colonies, adopt-

ed by Commissioners assembled at Albany in July,

1754 .

Short Hints towards a Scheme for uniting the North-

ern Colonies

Letter from James Alexander to Cadwallader Colden

respecting the above Hints

Remarks on the Hints for a Scheme of Union, by

Cadwallader Colden.

Reasons and Motives on which the Plan of Union

was formed

Plan of Union adopted by the Convention at Albany;

with the Reasons and Motives for each Article

of the Plan

Three Letters to Governor Shirley

Letter I. Concerning the Voice of the People in

Choosing the Rulers by whom Taxes are Im-

posed

Letter II. On the Imposition of Direct Taxes upon

the Colonies without their Consent

•

Letter III. On the Subject of uniting the Colonies

more intimately with Great Britain, by allowing

them Representatives in Parliament

Plan for Settling two Western Colonies in North America,

with Reasons for the Plan

An Act for the better Ordering and Regulating such as are

willing and desirous to be united for Military Pur-

poses in Pennsylvania

A Dialogue between X, Y, & Z, concerning the present

State of Affairs in Pennsylvania

Report of the Committee of Aggrievances of the Assem-

bly of Pennsylvania

AN HISTORICAL REVIEW of the Constitution and Govern-

ment of Pennsylvania, from its Origin; so far as

regards the several Points of Controversy, which

have from time to time arisen between the several

Governors of Pennsylvania and their several As-

semblies

Dedication

Introduction

CHAPTER I.

Abstract of the Charter granted to William Penn. Conditions to the

first Settlers of Pennsylvania. Penn's first Frame of Government.

His Reservation of Quit-Rents. His second Frame of Govern-

ment. Pennsylvania and the Territory of the Three Lower Coun-

ties united. Remonstrance of a subsequent Assembly against the

Union. Motives of the Planters for accepting the second Frame

of Government. Mr. Penn's Return to England, and Appointment

of five Commissioners to administer the Government. Disorders

which ensued during his Absence. Captain Blackwell's Govern-

The Government assumed into the Hands of the Crown in 1693, and

administered by Colonel Fletcher, Governor of New York. He

116

declares the Constitution of Penn's Government, and that of their

Majesties, to be directly opposite each to the other. He menaces

the Assembly with an Annexation of their Province to that of New

York. Protestation against passing Bills. Remonstrance to Penn.

The Governor admits the Principles of the Quakers, not to carry

Arms or levy Money to make War. The Assembly insist on their

Right to appropriate as well as to raise Money. The Government

of William Markham. A new Act of Settlement or Frame of

Government. The Government resumed by Penn. A new Model

of Elections. The Assembly formed thereon dissolved. Another

Assembly called upon another Model. Aids granted to the Pro-

prietary Governor in Exchange for a Confirmation of Property.

Penn's Speech to a new Assembly. Three of the Requisitions

they made to him, with his Answers and their Replies. A Breach

between the Province and the Territory. The last Charter of

Privileges. It is unanimously rejected by the Freemen of the

Territory. Penn's Departure for England. Andrew Hamilton,

Deputy-Governor, in vain endeavours to re-unite the Territory with

the Province.

136

CHAPTER III.

John Evans succeeds Hamilton. Controversy between him and the

Assembly. Nine several Heads of Complaint entered in the Min-

utes of the Assembly, as the Ground of a Representation to the

Proprietary. The Remainder of that Representation. A Copy of

it demanded by the Governor and refused by the Assembly. The

Governor censures the Proprietary's Charter of Property. The

Draftsman's Defence of it. The Governor declares the Proprieta-

ry's high Resentment of the Assembly's Representation. The As-

sembly's Reply. The Governor refers to the Charter of Privileges

as the only Rule of Government. The Assembly complain of

Infractions made in it. Their Representation to the Proprietary

against the Governor. Logan impeached by the Assembly, and

skreened by the Governor. A unanimous Vote of Thanks to the

Proprietary for recalling Evans. General View of Gookin's Gov-

ernment. Assembly's Character of Themselves.

CHAPTER IV.

A Proprietary Governor a wretched Thing. Artful Conduct of Gover-

nor Keith. Penn's Death. The Province left in the Hands of

Trustees. Logan, one of those Trustees, obtains a Majority in the

Council against the Governor. Logan makes a Voyage to Eng-

land, and returns with Private Instructions to Keith. A Breach

between the Governor and the Speaker. The Province in a State

160