the agent from Connecticut in London during that period. His original letter-book is in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the use of it has been freely granted for this occasion. Many interesting and important extracts from Mr. Oswald's correspondence with the British ministry, while he was engaged in negotiating the treaty of peace in Paris, are likewise subjoined as notes to Dr. Franklin's letters on that subject. These extracts were taken from a manuscript volume, containing a copy of Mr. Oswald's entire correspondence, with which the Editor was favored by the Marquis of Lansdown, in addition to other evidences of that nobleman's liberal spirit and enlargement of mind, in aiding his researches for materials illustrative of American history. A few notes have been selected from Mr. Vaughan's and William Temple Franklin's editions, which are indicated in each case by their initials. For all the notes, except those written by the author, and those for which some other authority is cited, the Editor is responsible. The first volume consists of a Life of Franklin, being his autobiography, and a Continuation by the Editor. The autobiography has been divided into chapters, of suitable length, for the convenience of readers. In the Continuation the Editor has endeavoured to follow out the author's plan, by confining himself strictly to a narrative of the principal events and incidents of his life, as far as these could be ascertained from his writings, his public acts, and the testimony of his contemporaries. The engraved portrait of Dr. Franklin, prefixed to the first volume, is from an original picture now in the possession of Mr. Thomas W. Sumner, of Brookline, Massachusetts. Neither the name of the artist, nor the precise time at which it was painted, is known. The picture formerly belonged to his brother, John Franklin, and it is mentioned in his will. dated in January, 1756. It has been retained in the family ever since. It was painted when Franklin was a young man, probably before he was thirty years old, and twenty-five or thirty years earlier than the portraits, from which any of the other engravings extant have been taken. The head of Mrs. Franklin, contained in this work, is from a picture owned by the Reverend Dr. Charles Hodge, of Princeton, New Jersey. Both these portraits are of the size of life. They have never before been engraved. The portrait by Duplessis has been generally acknowledged to exhibit the best likeness of Franklin in his old age. The engraving of it for this work was executed in Paris, from the original. Although the Editor has spared neither labor nor expense in his endeavours to make this edition a complete collection of the writings of Franklin, yet he is constrained to say, in justice to the memory of the author, that he has been less successful than he could have wished. Many papers, known to have once existed. he has not been able to find. Of this description are numerous letters to his son, written before the Revolution; and also his letters, during a long course of years, to his daughter and his son-inlaw, a very few of which have been preserved. Again, his entire correspondence with the Assemblies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Georgia, while he was agent for those colonies in England, has hitherto eluded the most vigilant search. All these papers are probably lost, as well as those taken from the chest in Galloway's house, and others, described by him as important, which he had committed to the charge of his son, before his mission to France. It is possible that other writings may yet be brought to light, which may afford some future editor the means of more entire success. CONTENTS OF THE TEN VOLUMES. Origin and Genealogy of his Family. - His Birth. - His Mother. Employments in his Boyhood. Anecdote. Character of his Father. - Epitaph on his Father and Mother. - Fond of reading. Apprenticed to his Brother to learn the Printer's Trade. - Writes Ballads. - Intimacy with Collins. - Practises Composition. Adopts a vegetable Diet. Studies the Socratic Method of Disputation. - Concerned in publishing a Newspaper. Disa- grees with his Brother. - Leaves Boston and takes Passage in a CHAPTER II. Quaker Patronized 'ourney to Philadelphia. - Adventure in a Boat. - Dr. Brown. - Burlington. His first Appearance in Philadelphia. Meeting. - Seeks for Employment as a Printer. Commences Work in Keimer's Office. - Forms Acquaintances. by Sir William Keith, Governor of Pennsylvania. - First Inter- view with him. Keith proposes to set him up in Business. Returns to Boston. His Father disapproves Keith's Plan. Voyage to New York. - Incident on the Passage from Newport. Meets his Friend Collins in New York. - They go together to Philadelphia. Collins's ill Conduct causes a Separation – Keith insists on executing his original Plan, and proposes sending him to London to purchase Types. - Returns to the Use of animal Food. - Anecdotes of Keimer. His Associates, Osborne, Wat Sails for London, accompanied by Ralph. - On his Arrival delivers Letters supposed to be written by the Governor. Discovers that Keith had deceived him. - His Money exhausted. - Engages to work as a Printer at Palmer's, in Bartholomew Close. - Writes and prints a metaphysical Tract. - Frequents a Club, consisting of Dr Mandeville and Others. - Disagreement with Ralph and Separation. Inn Fields. Habits of the Workmen. - His Expenses of Living. - Feats of Activity in Swimming. - Enters into Mercantile Bus- Voyage from London to Philadelphia. - His Mercantile Plans de- feated by the Death of Mr. Denham. Accepts an Offer from Keimer to superintend his Printing Establishment. - Description of the Workmen in the Printing-house. Resolves to separate from Keimer, and commence Business on his own Account. Engraves the Plates for Paper Money in New Jersey, and prints the Bills. His Views of Religion. Account of his London Pamphlet. - A New Version of the Lord's Prayer, with Explan- The Junto. - Description of its original Members. - Franklin writes the "Busy Body." - Establishes a Newspaper. - Partnership with Meredith dissolved. Writes a Tract on the Necessity of a Paper Currency. - Opens a Stationer's Shop. - His Habits of Industry Origin of the Philadelphia Library. - Mode of obtaining Subscrip- tions. Thrives in his Business. Anecdote of the Silver Spoon and China Bowl. - Religious Sentiments and Remarks on Preach ing. - Scheme for arriving at Moral Perfection. - Explanation of the Scheme. - List of Virtues enumerated, and Rules for Prac- |