OF THE

LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,

LL.D. F.R.S. &c.

MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AT THE COURT OF FRANCE, AND FOR THE TREATY OF PEACE
AND INDEPENDENCE WITH GREAT BRITAIN, &c. &c.

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF TO A LATE PERIOD,

AND CONTINUED TO THE TIME OF HIS DEATH
BY HIS GRANDSON,

WILLIAM TEMPLE FRANKLIN.

COMPRISING THE

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE

And public Negociations of Dr. Franklin.

AND HIS SELECT

POLITICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL, AND MISCELLANEOUS WORKS,
PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MSS.

PREFACE.

An apology for presenting to the Republic of Letters the authentic memorials of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, illustrative of his Life and Times, written almost entirely with his own hand, would be at once superfluous and disrespectful. If any observation be at all requisite in the shape of explanation, it must be in answer to the inquiry, why such interesting documents have been so long withheld from public view? To this the Editor has no hesication in replying, that were he conscious of having neglected a solemn trust by disobeying a positive injunction; or could he be convinced that the world has sustained any real injury by the delay of the publication, he certainly should take shame to him