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.

CHAPTER III.

247

-

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- Stamp Act repealed.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

C"

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.-

-

-

337

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.

356

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

Philadelphia.

-

. 371

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.

Proceeds to Paris, and

Voyage to France. — Arrives at Nantes.

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.

-

393

-Lord Stormont. - Application of Foreign Officers for Employ-

ment in the American Army. - Lafayette. Reasons why the

-

French delay to enter into a Treaty with the United States.

Interview with Count de Vergennes on that Subject. -Treaty of

Amity and Commerce. - Treaty of Alliance. - Franklin and the

other Commissioners introduced at Court. .

-

in Disguise.

with Voltaire.

CHAPTER XI.

Preparations for War between France and England. - M. Gérard. —

Mr. John Adams. - Secret Advances made to Dr. Franklin for

effecting a Reconciliation between England and the United States.

- Mr. Hutton. Mr. Pulteney. - Mr. Hartley. - An Emissary

Franklin's personal Friends in Paris. - Interview

Franklin appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the

Court of France. Machinations of his Enemies to procure his

Recall. Mr. Arthur Lee. Mr. Ralph Izard. — Visit of Sir Wil-

liam Jones to Paris. - Franklin instructs the American Cruisers

not to seize Captain Cook's Vessel. — Grants Passports to Vessels

carrying Supplies to the Moravian Missionaries on the Coast of Lab-
rador. Paul Jones. - The Marquis de Lafayette. - Mr. Vaughan's
Edition of Franklin's Political and Miscellaneous Writings.

-

-

CHAPTER XII.

-

A French Army sent to the United States.-Lafayette. Northern

Powers of Europe combine in Defence of Neutrals. — Franklin's

Opinion of Privateering. - Correspondence between Count de

Vergennes and Mr. Adams. - Franklin's Remarks upon it. -

Charges against Franklin by his Enemies, examined and refuted.

-- New Attempt in Congress to procure his Recall. Count de

Vergennes's Opinion of him as Minister at the French Court. -

The numerous Duties of his Office.. Colonel John Laurens..

Franklin proposes to retire from the Public Service. New Prop-

ositions for Peace, through the Agency of Mr. Hartley. - Frank-

lin's Answer to them.-His Friends at Passy and Auteuil.-

Madame Brillon. Madame Helvétius.

-

-

CHAPTER XIII.

-

--

-

Negotiations for Peace. - Debates on the Subject in the British

Parliament.Change of Ministry.. Mr. Oswald sent to Paris to

consult Dr. Franklin on the Mode of Negotiating. - Grenville's

Commission; disapproved by Franklin. Mr. Fox's Views of In-

dependence. Lord Shelburne's Administration. - Mr. Fitzher-

bert. — Mr. Oswald commissioned to negotiate the American Trea-

ty.- Essential Articles of the Treaty proposed by Franklin. —

Advisable Articles.. Mr. Jay disapproves Mr. Oswald's Com-

mission. — An Alteration required and obtained. Progress of

-

417

438

459

-

--

the Treaty. Independence, Boundaries, Fisheries. Attempts

of the British Ministry to secure the Indemnification of the Loy-

alists. Mr. Adams joins his Colleagues and resists the British

Claims. Franklin proposes an Article for Indemnifying the

Americans for their Losses during the War. — British Claims

relinquished. Treaty signed. — Ratified by Congress.

-

CHAPTER XIV.

-

Treaty signed without the Knowledge of the Court of France.—

-Count de Vergennes's Opinion of the Treaty. Unfounded Sus-

picions. Rayneval and Marbois. Franklin's Explanation of the

Grounds upon which he acted. —False Rumor concerning his Ex-

ertions in obtaining the Boundaries and Fisheries. - His Financial

Contract with Count de Vergennes. - Negotiates a Treaty with

Sweden. Mr. Hartley. Definitive Treaty of Peace signed. —

Franklin's Sentiments on this Occasion. - Animal Magnetism.-

Negotiations. His Request to be recalled is finally granted by

Congress.-Treaty with Prussia. - Franklin prepares to return

Home. Journey from Passy to Havre de Grace. Sails from

Southampton and arrives in Philadelphia.

CHAPTER XV.

-

-

Receives congratulatory Letters and Addresses. - Chosen President

of Pennsylvania, and holds the Office three Years. His private

Circumstances. Appointed a Delegate to the Convention for

Framing the Constitution of the United States. - His Speeches in

the Convention. His Religious Opinions. Extracts from Dr.

Cutler's Journal describing an Interview with him. — President of

the Society for Political Inquiries. - Neglect of Congress to exam-

ine and settle his Accounts. - Various Pieces written by him dur-

ing the last Year of his Life. — His Illness and Death. Funeral

Ceremonies. Tribute of Respect paid to him by Congress and

other Public Bodies. - Conclusion.

-

--

474

489

511

APPENDIX.

I. Remarks on the Origin and Genealogy of the Franklin Family,

II. Journal of a Voyage from London to Philadelphia,

III. Proposals relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania,

IV. American Philosophical Society, .

539

547

569

576

V. Extracts from a Private Journal,

579

VI. Extracts from a Private Journal,

587

VII. Proceedings of Congress, and of the National Assembly of

France, on the Death of Franklin,