The writings of Benjamin Franklin V10

PREFACE

SINCE the appearance of the first volume of this edition so many new documents have been discovered by the diligent investigations of scholars, and generously furnished from private collections, that it has become an embarrassing problem to include both the -new and the old within the limits of the work as originally proposed. I have been forced reluctantly to abandon my cherished plan of a comprehensive biography of Franklin, and to content myself with a more meagre outline of the story of his life. The publication of his works in their original integrity is the object of first importance, and to that end all other causes must give way. Moreover, Franklin's writings are his best biography, a fact recognized by Mr. Bigelow, who, in his "Life of Franklin," has allowed the great man through his Memoirs and his correspondence — " almost miraculously preserved from incalculable perils" — to tell his own story. In the sketch of personal and political history contained in the present volume, I have been as brief as was consistent with clearness, because I have had small space at my command, and because it has seemed unnecessary to quote from documents which exist in the previous volumes of this work.

In the writing of the biography I have been chiefly indebted to the late lamented Henri Doniol, whose monumental work, "Histoire de la Participation de la France a PEtablissement des Etats-Unis d'Amerique," is one of the triumphs of histori-



cal research. "The Life of Franklin," by James Parton, is a work of much labour and learning which has fallen into unmerited neglect. I have found the Vicomte de Noailles' " Ma-rins et Soldats Franfais en Ame'rique " frequently helpful.

The second centenary of the birth of Franklin was made in 1906 the occasion of extraordinary honours and unprecedented commemorations. Anniversary feasts and elaborate celebrations continued hi ever increasing interest in many parts of America, from their beginning in the first week of the year until their stately culmination hi the august proceedings of the month of April hi Paris and the splendid ceremonials of the same tune in Philadelphia. The State of Pennsylvania made a liberal appropriation to The American Philosophical Society to defray the cost of the latter celebration, at which one hundred and twenty-seven societies and institutions of learning in Europe and America were represented. A gold medal, designed by Louis and Augustus St. Gaudens, was struck by order of Congress and presented, under the direction of the President of the United States, to the Republic of France.

In Paris a statue of Franklin, the gift of Mr. John H. Harjes, was unveiled at the entrance into the Place du Trocade'ro of the rue Franklin, on which the philosopher and statesman dwelt during his stay at Passy. Two ex-presidents of the French Republic and one of the United States, distinguished officials and diplomatists of world-wide fame, constituted a Committee of Honour to add brilliancy to the fete. The celebration took place in the salle des etes of the Palace of the Trocade'ro in the presence of nearly five thousand persons and almost all the high officials of the French government and the ministers and ambassadors of foreign powers. A distinguished French orator and cabinet minister was chosen



by the French government to deliver a eulogy, and the editor of this work was appointed by President Roosevelt as the spokesman of the United States. I have drawn occasionally in the course of this volume upon my oration delivered upon that occasion, and I have sometimes quoted from a series of articles upon "Franklin's Social Life in France," contributed by me to Putnam's Monthly, for, as the old Greek proverb runs, Si? Se OVK evSe^erai.