Sections: Introduction - A Cause For Revolution - Break With Britain - Continental Congress
Treaty of Paris - The New Republic - Scientist and Inventor - Printer and Writer - Epitaph
Partial Transcriptions
Stamp Act Repeal in 1766 (7)
The favourable Sentiments you express of my Conduct with regard to the Repeal of the Stamp act, give me real Pleasure; and I hope in every other matter of publick Concern, so as to behave myself as to stand fair in the Opinions of the Wise and Good: What the rest think and say of me will then give me less Concern.
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Franklin and the King and Queen of France (9)
You see I speak of the Queen as if I had seen her, and so I have; for you must know I have been at Court. We went to Versailles last Sunday, and had the Honour of being presented to the King, he spoke to both of us very graciously and chearfully, is a handsome Man, has a very lively Look. And appears younger than he is.
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"You Are Now My Enemy" (10)
You are a Member of Parliament, and one of that Majority which has doomed my Country to Destruction. You have begun to burn our Towns, and murder our People. Look upon your hands! They are stained with the Blood of your Relations! You and I were long Friends; You are now my Enemy, and I am, Yours
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Response to the Hutchinson Affair (11)
Having been from my Youth more or less engag'd in Publick Affairs, it has often happened to me in the Course of my Life to be censured sharply for the Part I took [i]n them.
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"It is impossible we should think of Submission" (13)
It is impossible we should think of Submission to a Government, that has with the most wanton Barbarity and Cruelty, burnt our defenceless Towns in the midst of Winter, excited the Savages to massacre our Farmers, and our Slaves to murder their Masters, and is even now bringing foreign Mercenaries to deluge our Settlements with Blood. These atrocious injuries have extinguished every remaining Spark of Affection for that Parent Country we once held so dear.
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Benjamin Franklin Delivers a Petition (18)
Petiton of the Continental Congress Oct. 26 1774 letter of transmittal
We desire you will deliver the Petition into the hands of his Majesty and after it has been prevented, we wish it may be made public thro' the press together with the list of Grievances.
Petition to the king
We therefore most earnestly beseech your Majesty, that your royal authority and interposition may be used for our relief: and that a gracious answer may be given to this petition.
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The Edge of the Precipice (19)
I hope the administration will see and be convinced that it is not a little faction, but the whole body of American freeholders from Nova Scotia to Georgia that now complain and apply for redress; And who, I am sure, will resist rather than submit.
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Negotiating the Treaty of Paris (20)
Now therefore, We the Ministers Plenipotentiary from the United States of America, for making Peace with Great Britain do notify to the People & Citizens of the said United States of America, that Hostilities on their Part against his Britannic Majesty both by Sea and Land are to cease.
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"The Hypocrisy of this Country" (24)
I made a little Extract from yours of April 27 of the Number of Slaves imported and perishing, with some close Remarks on the Hypocrisy of this Country which encourages such a detestable Commerce by Laws, for promoting the Guinea Trade, while it piqu'd itself on its Virtue Love of Liberty, and the Equity of its courts in setting free a single Negro.
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Restoring Harmony (26)
It has given me great Pleasure to observe that till this Point, the Proportion of Representation, came before us, our Debates were carry'd on with Great Coolness and Temper.
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A Copy of the Federal Constitution (28)
I take this opportunity of sending you another Copy of the propos'd new federal Constitution, and of acquainting you that the Box containing the Encyclopedia for me and Mr. Hopkinson is just come to hand in good Order.
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"A Much More Respectable Bird" (29)
I am, on this acccount, not displeas'd that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turk'y. For in truth, the Turk'y is in comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America.
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The "growing Strength" of the United States (30)
My Malady renders my Sitting up to write rather painful to me, but I cannot let my Son-in-law Mr. Bache part for New York, without congratulating you by him on the Recovery of your Health, so precious to us all, and on the growing Strength of our New Government under your Administration.
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Franklin's Design for Bifocals (36)
I therefore had formerly two Pair of Spectacles, which I shifted occasionally, as in travelling I sometimes read, and often wanted to regard the Prospects. Finding this Change troublesome, and not always sufficiently ready, I had the Glasses cut, and half of each kind associated in the same Circle, thus,
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On Electricity (38)
"That the Electricty by its repulsive Nature is capable of Forcing Portions of the same Fluid out of Bodies without entring them itself, appears from this Experiment."
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Franklin Explains the Effects of Lightning (39)
The Tinfoil melted in Spots between b and c, and that whole Space not being melted, seems to indicate that the Foil in the melted Parts had been thinner than the rest, on which their Parts the passing Fluid had therefore a greater effect.
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Franklin Battles the Common Cold (41)
Means of preventing Colds, Temperance, Choice of Meats & Drinks, Warm Rooms, & Lodging & Clothing in Winter, dry Air, Care to keep the Belly open, & frequent Discharge of Water, warm Bathing to cleanse the Skin. Rubbing for Sweat, especially in the Spring.
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The Aurora Borealis (42)
A Similar Operation is perform'd by Nature on the Air of this Globe. Our Atmosphere is of a certain height, perhaps at a Medium Miles. Above that height it is so rare as to be almost a vacuum. The Air heated between the Tropics is continually rising, its Place is supply'd by northerly & southerly Winds which come from the cooler Regions.
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Benjamin Franklin's Personal Liturgy (47)
I Believe there is one Supreme most perfect Being, Author and Father of the Gods themselves.
For I believe that Man is not the most perfect Being but One, rather that as many Degrees of Beings his Inferiors, so there are many Degrees of Beings superior to him.
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A Letter to His Wife (54)
It seems but t'other Day since you and I were rank'd among the Boys and Girls, so swiftly does Time fly! We have however great Reason to be thankful that so much of our Lives has pass'd so happily; and that so great a Share of Health and Strength remains, as to render Life yet comfortable.
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Jefferson Eulogizes Benjamin Franklin (55)
I can only therefore testify in general that there appeared to me more respect and veneration attached to the character of Doctor Franklin in France than to that of any other person in the same country, foreign or native.
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"Public Education for Our Youth" (56)
Having acquir'd some little Reputation among my Fellow Citizens by projecting the Public Library in 1732 and obtaining the Subscriptions by which it was establish'd,
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Philadelphia Accepts Legacy from Franklin (57)
That they conceive this Corporation is by Law capable of taking the Legacy contained in the Will of Doct. Franklin subject to the Trust therein expressed, and as the same is given to a charitable Use immediately & for the general benefit of the City
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Praise for Franklin from James Madison (58)
During the session of the Grand Convention of which he was a member and as long after as he lived, I had opportunity of enjoying much of his conversation which was always a feast to me. I never passed half an hour in his company without hearing some observation or anecdote worth remembering.
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The Senate Rejects Efforts to Honor Franklin (59)
Carol, rose and made Motion That the Senate should wear crape A month for the loss of Doctor Franklin. before he was seconded Elsworth got up and opposed it. said it could not be carried in the Senate he trusted it would not be seconded.
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Franklin's Epitaph (61)
The Body of B. Franklin, Printer; like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost; For it will, as he believ'd, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended By the Author.