THE COMPLETE WORKS
OF THE LATE DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,

Now First Collected And Arranged: With Memoirs Of His Early Life, Written By Himself.

IN THREE VOLUMES

VOL. III. (of III)



CONTENTS

PAPERS ON AMERICAN SUBJECTS BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONARY TROUBLES.
Page.
Albany papers; containing, I. reasons and motives on which the plan of union for the colonies was formed;—II. reasons against partial unions;—III. and the plan of union drawn by B. F. and unanimously agreed to by the commissioners from New Hampshire, Massachusett's Bay, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, and Pensylvania, met in congress at Albany, in July 1754, to consider of the best means of defending the king's dominions in America, &c. a war being then apprehended; with the reasons or motives for each article of the plan 3
Albany papers continued. I. letter to Governor Shirley, concerning the imposition of direct taxes upon the colonies, without their consent 30
II. Letter to the same; concerning direct taxes in the colonies imposed without consent, indirect taxes, and the Albany plan of union 31
III. Letter to the same, on the subject of uniting the colonies more intimately with Great Britain, by allowing them representatives in parliament 37
Plan for settling two Western colonies in North America, with reasons for the plan, 1754 41
Report of the committee of aggrievances of the assembly of Pensylvania, dated Feb. 22, 1757 50
An historical review of the constitution and government of Pensylvania, from its origin; so far as regards the several points of controversy which have, from time to time, arisen between the several governors of that province, and their several assemblies. Founded on authentic documents 59
The interest of Great Britain considered, with regard to her colonies, and the acquisitions of Canada and Guadaloupe 89
Remarks and facts relative to the American paper-money 144
To the freemen of Pensylvania, on the subject of a particular militia-bill, rejected by the proprietor's deputy or governor 157
Preface by a member of the Pensylvanian assembly (Dr. Franklin) to the speech of Joseph Galloway, Esq. one of the members for Philadelphia county; in answer to the speech of John Dickinson, Esq. delivered in the house of the assembly of the province of Pensylvania, May 24, 1764, on occasion of a petition drawn up by order, and then under the consideration of the house, praying his majesty for a royal, in lieu of a proprietary government 163
Remarks on a late protest against the appointment of Mr. Franklin as agent for this province (of Pensylvania) 203
Remarks on a plan for the future management of Indian affairs 216
PAPERS ON AMERICAN SUBJECTS DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY TROUBLES.
Causes of the American discontents before 1768 225
Letter concerning the gratitude of America, and the probability and effects of an union with Great Britain; and concerning the repeal or suspension of the stamp act 239
Letter from Governor Pownall to Dr. Franklin, concerning an equal communication of rights, privileges, &c. to America by Great Britain 243
Minutes to the foregoing, by Dr. Franklin 244
The examination of Dr. Franklin before the English house of commons, in February, 1766, relative to the repeal of the American stamp act 245
Attempts of Dr. Franklin for conciliation of Great Britain with the colonies 286
Queries from Mr. Strahan 287
Answer to the preceding queries 290
State of the constitution of the colonies, by Governor Pownall; with remarks by Dr. Franklin 299
Concerning the dissentions between England and America 310
A Prussian edict, assuming claims over Britain 311
Preface by the British editor (Dr. Franklin) to "The votes and proceedings of the freeholders, and other inhabitants of the town of Boston, in town-meeting assembled according to law (published by order of the town), &c." 317
Account of governor Hutchinson's letters 322
Rules for reducing a great empire to a small one, presented to a late minister, when he entered upon his administration 334
State of America on Dr. Franklin's arrival there 346
Proposed vindication and offer from congress to parliament, in 1775 347
Reprobation of Mr. Strahan's parliamentary conduct 354
Conciliation hopeless from the conduct of Great Britain to America 355
Account of the first campaign made by the British forces in America 357
Probability of a separation 358
Letter to Monsieur Dumas, urging him to sound the several courts of Europe, by means of their ambassadors at the Hague, as to any assistance they may be disposed to afford America in her struggle for independence 360
Letter from Lord Howe to Dr. Franklin 365
Dr. Franklin's answer to Lord Howe 367
Comparison of Great Britain and America as to credit, in 1777 372
PAPERS, DESCRIPTIVE OF AMERICA, OR RELATING TO THAT COUNTRY, WRITTEN SUBSEQUENT TO THE REVOLUTION.
Remarks concerning the savages of North America 383
The internal state of America; being a true description of the interest and policy of that vast continent 391
Information to those who would remove to America 398
Concerning new settlements in America 409
A comparison of the conduct of the ancient Jews, and of the Antifederalists in the United States of America 410
Final speech of Dr. Franklin in the late federal convention 416
PAPERS ON MORAL SUBJECTS AND THE ECONOMY OF LIFE.
The busy-body 421
The way to wealth, as clearly shown in the preface of an old Pensylvania almanack, intitled, Poor Richard Improved 453
Advice to a young tradesman 463
Necessary hints to those that would be rich 466
The way to make money plenty in every man's pocket 467
New mode of lending money 468
An economical project 469
On early marriages 475
Effect of early impressions on the mind 478
The whistle 480
A petition to those who have the superintendency of education 483
The handsome and deformed leg 485
Morals of chess 488
The art of procuring pleasant dreams 493
Dialogue between Franklin and the gout 499
On the death of relatives 507
The ephemera an emblem of human life 508
APPENDIX, NO. I.—CONTAINING PAPERS PROPER FOR INSERTION, BUT OMITTED IN THE PRECEDING VOLUMES.
Letter to Sir Hans Sloane 513
Letter to Michael Collinson, Esq. 514
Letter respecting captain Cook 515
An address to the public, from the Pensylvania society for promoting the abolition of slavery, and the relief of free negroes, unlawfully held in bondage 517
Plan for improving the condition of the free blacks 519
Paper: a poem 523
Plain truth; or, serious considerations on the present state of the city of Philadelphia, and province of Pensylvania 524
Four letters to Mr. Whetley 543*
APPENDIX, NO. II.—CONTAINING LETTERS BY SEVERAL EMINENT PERSONS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF DR. FRANKLIN'S MANNERS AND CHARACTER.
Letter from the late Dr. Price to a gentleman in America 543
Letter from Mr. Thomas Jefferson to the late Dr. William Smith, of Philadelphia 545
Letter from the late Dr. Joseph Priestly 547





MEMOIRS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN; WRITTEN BY HIMSELF

With His Most Interesting Essays, Letters, And Miscellaneous Writings; Familiar, Moral, Political, Economical, And Philosophical.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I. (of II)

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME

PART I.
  Page
Life of Dr. Franklin, written by himself 13
 
PART II.
 
Letter from Mr. Abel James 91
Letter from Mr. Benjamin Vaughan 92
Continuation of Life, begun at Passy, near Paris, 1784 98
Memorandum 115
 
PART III.
 
Life of Franklin, continued by Dr. Stuber 191
Extracts from Franklin's Will 227
 
WRITINGS OF FRANKLIN.
 
The Examination of Dr. Franklin before the British House of Commons, relative to the Repeal of the American Stamp-act 237
Narrative of the Massacre of Friendly Indians in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1764 264
Introduction to Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania 282
Dr. Franklin's Motion for Prayers in the Convention at Philadelphia, 1787, to revise the then existing Articles of Confederation 286





MEMOIRS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN; WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

With His Most Interesting Essays, Letters, And Miscellaneous Writings; Familiar, Moral, Political, Economical, And Philosophical.

IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL. II. (of II)



CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME

ESSAYS

  Page
The Way to Wealth; as clearly shown in the practice of an old Pennsylvania Almanac, entitled, "Poor Richard Improved" 5
On True Happiness 14
Public Men 16
The Waste of Life 22
Self-denial not the Essence of Virtue 25
On the Usefulness of the Mathematics 27
The Art of procuring Pleasant Dreams 31
Advice to a young Tradesman 37
Rules of Health 39
The Ephemera; an Emblem of Human Life. To Madame Brillon, of Passy 40
The Whistle. To Madame Brillon 42
On Luxury, Idleness, and Industry 45
On Truth and Falsehood 50
Necessary Hints to those that would be Rich 53
The Way to make Money plenty in every Man's Pocket 54
The Handsome and Deformed Leg 55
On Human Vanity 58
On Smuggling, and its various Species 62
Remarks concerning the Savages of North America 66
On Freedom of Speech and the Press 71
On the Price of Corn and the Management of the Poor 82
Singular Custom among the Americans, entitled Whitewashing 86
On the Criminal Laws and the Practice of Privateering 94
Letter from Anthony Afterwit 102

LETTERS

To Mrs. Abiah Franklin 107
To Miss Jane Franklin 108
To the same 109
To Mr. George Whitefield 110
To Mrs. D. Franklin 112
To the same 113
To Mrs. Jane Mecom 114
To the same 115
To the same 116
To Miss Stevenson 119
To Lord Kames 120
To the same 121
To the same 128
To John Alleyne 130
To Governor Franklin 132
To Dr. Priestley 134
To the same 136
To Mr. Mather 137
To Mr. Strahan 138
To Dr. Priestley 138
To Mrs. Thompson 139
To Mr. Lith 142
Answer to a Letter from Brussels 144
To Dr. Price 151
To Dr. Priestley 152
To General Washington 154
To M. Court de Gebelin 156
To Francis Hopkinson 158
To Francis Hopkinson 159
To Samuel Huntingdon, President of Congress 160
To the Bishop of St. Asaph 162
To Miss Alexander 163
To Benjamin Vaughan 164
To Mrs. Hewson 166
To David Hartley 167
To Dr. Percival 168
To Sir Joseph Banks 169
To Robert Morris, Esq. 171
To Dr. Mather 172
To William Strahan, M.P. 174
To George Wheatley 178
To David Hartley 181
To the Bishop of St. Asaph 181
To Mrs. Hewson 184
To M. Veillard 185
To Mr. Jordain 187
To Miss Hubbard 189
To George Wheatley 190
To B. Vaughan 192
To the President of Congress 193
To Mrs. Green 196
To Dr. Price 197
To B. Vaughan 198
To Dr. Rush 199
To Miss Catharine Louisa Shipley 199
To * * * 200
Copy of the last Letter written by Dr. Franklin 201

PHILOSOPHICAL SUBJECTS

To the Abbé Soulavie.—Theory of the Earth 203
To Dr. John Pringle.—On the different Strata of the Earth 207
To Mr. Bowdoin.—Queries and Conjectures relating to Magnetism and the Theory of the Earth 208
To M. Dubourg.—On the Nature of Seacoal 211
Causes of Earthquakes 212
To David Rittenhouse.—New and Curious Theory of Light and Heat 224
Of Lightning; and the Methods now used in America for the securing Buildings and Persons from its mischievous Effects 227
To Peter Collinson.—Electrical Kite 231
Physical and Meteorological Observations, Conjectures, and Suppositions 232
To Dr. Perkins.—Water-spouts and Whirlwinds compared 240
To Alexander Small.—On the Northeast Storms in North America 254
To Dr. Lining.—On Cold produced by Evaporation 256
To Peter Franklin.—On the Saltness of Seawater 263
To Miss Stephenson.—Salt Water rendered fresh by Distillation.—Method of relieving Thirst by Seawater 264
To the same.—Tendency of Rivers to the Sea.—Effects of the Sun's Rays on Cloths of different Colours 266
To the same.—On the Effect of Air on the Barometer, and the Benefits derived from the Study of Insects 270
To Dr. Joseph Priestley.—Effect of Vegetation on Noxious Air 273
To Dr. John Pringle.—On the Difference of Navigation in Shoal and Deep Water 274
To Oliver Neale.—On the Art of Swimming 277
To Miss Stephenson.—Method of contracting Chimneys.—Modesty in Disputation 281
To M. Dubourg.—Observations on the prevailing Doctrines of Life and Death 282
Lord Brougham's Portrait of Dr. Franklin 285