CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.

PREFACE

PAGE

. 5-13

Historical Sketch of the Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Autograph

MS. of Franklin's Memoirs of his Own Life

19-76

PART I.

Franklin's Outline of the Topics of his Autobiography

77-80

Autobiography of Franklin from his Birth to his Arrival in England as

Agent of the Colony of Pennsylvania (1706-1757) .

81-372

PART II.

CONTINUATION OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY FROM FRANKLIN'S AR-

RIVAL IN ENGLAND AS AGENT OF THE COLONY OF PENNSYL-

VANIA, IN JUNE, 1757, UNTIL THE Close oF HIS MISSION THERE

AND RETURN TO PHILADELPHIA, IN 1775.

CHAPTER I.

Domestication and Protracted Illness in London-Removal of Gov-

ernor Denny-Countermining the Proprietors-Historical Review,

etc., of Pennsylvania-Tour through England and Scotland-Cam-

bridge University-Visits the Home of his Ancestors-Counsels the

Annexation of Canada to the British Empire-Portrait of William

Penn-The "Art of Virtue"-Kames's Elements of Criticism"-

Directions for a Young Lady's Reading-Expensiveness of English

Wives-Hume's "Jealousy of Commerce"-Baskerville's Printing-

Types-Property of the Penn Family-Death of his Mother-in-law-

Lightning Conductors (1757-1762).

PAGE

375-433

CHAPTER II.

His Reception in America-His Son's Marriage, and Appointment as

Governor of New Jersey-Tour through the Colonies as Postmaster-

General-Insurrection of the Indians-Drafts a Militia Bill-Its Re-

jection by the Governor-Drafts a Petition to the Throne for a Change

of Governor-Is defeated for the Assembly-Sent to England again

as Agent of the Colony of Pennsylvania-Parting Advice to his

Daughter (1762–1764)

434-448

CHAPTER III.

Jealousy of English Manufacturers-Origin of the Stamp Act-Opposi-

tion of Franklin-Effect of its Passage in America-Names a Stamp

Distributor-Unpleasant Consequences-Correspondence with Dean

Tucker (1764-1766).

449-466

CHAPTER IV.

Franklin's Examination before the House of Commons (1766)

CHAPTER V.

Franklin sends his Wife a New Dress on the Repeal of the Stamp Act

-New Disputes with the Mother Country-Colonies required to pro-

vide for Soldiers-Lord Chatham-Marriage of Sally Franklin-Ex-

periment of making Paper Money not a Legal Tender-Advances

of the French Ambassador to Franklin-Visits the Continent-First

Impressions of France and Germany (1766–1767) .

511-545

CHAPTER VI.

The Walpole Grant again-Change of Ministry-Hillsborough named

Secretary of State for America - Franklin edits "The Farmer's

Letters"-Particulars of his Election to the Royal Society-Powers

of Parliament over the Colonies defined-Corruption at Elections-

Dissolution of Parliament (1767-1768)

546-570

APPENDIX.

No. 1. Preface to Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin

Franklin, by William Temple Franklin

PAGE

573-577

No. 2. Preface to "Correspondance inédite, etc., de B. Franklin," by

M. Charles Malc

577-579

HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF THE

FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES OF THE AUTOGRAPH

MANUSCRIPT

OF

FRANKLIN'S MEMOIRS OF HIS OWN LIFE.

IT

T is well known that Franklin prepared so much of the celebrated Memoirs of his life as was originally intended for publication, mainly at the solicitation of one of his most cherished friends in France-M. le Veillard, then Mayor of Passy. Towards the close of the year 1789 he presented to this gentleman a copy of all this sketch that was then finished. At the Doctor's death,† his papers, including the original of the manuscript, passed into the hands of one of his grandsons, William Temple Franklin, who undertook to prepare an edition of the

*Revised from Bigelow's Autobiography of Franklin, Lippincott, 1868. † Benjamin Franklin died on the 17th of April, 1790, aged eightyfour years and three months.