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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-

arnination 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 - Stamp Act repealed.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.

337

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.

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 Påper 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.

393

CHAPTER X.

Voyage to France. — Arrives at Nantes. — Proceeds to Paris, and

takes up bis 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.

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

ment in the American Army. – Lafayette. Reasons why th

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..

. 417

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

in Disguise. — Franklin's personal Friends in Paris. — Interview

with Voltaire. — 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. 438

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.

459

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

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.

474

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.

489

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.

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, .

V. Extracts from a Private Journal,

VI. Extracts from a Private Journal,

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

France, on the Death of Franklin,

VIII. Epitaph,

IX. Franklin's Will,

539

547

569

576

579

587

592

596

599

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