Benjamin Franklin is one of the best known and most widely admired figures in American history. His wit and charm make him endearing; his practical intelligence and commitment to middle-class virtues like thrift and industry make him admirable. Indeed to many he is 'the first American'. Ironically, this identification of Franklin with American popular culture diminishes the breadth and depth of his contributions to modern political thought. The present volume provides the textual foundation for a fuller understanding of Franklin's thought, and represents a major addition to the Cambridge Texts series. Readers interested in the Autobiography will find a new and complete edition based on the original manuscript. Those interested in the full range of Franklin's political ideas will find a selection of his most important letters, essays and pamphlets. Alan Houston's lucid introduction brings life to these texts and sets them in their proper historical context.

Acknowledgements

xi

Introduction

xiii

Chronology

xxxix

Bibliographical note

xlii

Biographical guide

xlvii

A note on the texts

li

1 The Autobiography

Part One

1

(57)

Part Two

58

(20)

Part Three

78

(61)

Part Four

139

(4)

2 Plan of Conduct (July-October 1726)

143

(1)

3 A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper-Currency (3 April 1729)

144

(15)

4 Apology for Printers (10 June 1731)

159

(5)

5 Rules for a Club Formerly Established at Philadelphia (1732)

164

(3)

6 Dialogue Between Two Presbyterians (10 April 1735)

167

(5)

7 To Josiah and Abiah Franklin (13 April 1738)

172

(2)

8 A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge Among the British Plantations in America (14 May 1743)

174

(3)

9 The Speech of Miss Polly Baker (15 April 1747)

177

(3)

10 Plain Truth: or, Serious Considerations On the Present State of the City of Philadelphia, and Province of Pennsylvania (17 November 1747)

180

(13)

11 Form of the Association and Remarks into which Numbers are daily entering, for the Defence of this City and Province With Remarks on each Paragraph (3 December 1747)

193

(7)

12 Advice to a Young Tradesman, Written by an Old One (21 July 1748)

200

(3)

13 Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania (October 1749)

203

(12)

14 Observations concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries, &c. (1751 )

215

(7)

15 To James Parker (20 March 1751)

222

(4)

16 Rattle-Snakes for Felons (9 May 1751)

226

(2)

17 To Peter Collinson (9 May 1753)

228

(6)

18 To Peter Collinson (September 1753 January 1754)

234

(2)

19 Join or Die (9 May 1754)

236

(2)

20 Reasons and Motives for the Albany Plan of Union (July 1754)

238

(18)

21 To Governor Shirley (December 1754), with a Preface (8 February 1766)

256

(8)

22 Poor Richard Improved: Father Abraham's Speech (7 July 1757)

264

(8)

23 To_(13 December 1757)

272

(2)

24 To Lord Kames (3 May 1760)

274

(3)

25 On the Price of Corn, and Management of the Poor (29 November 1766)

277

(4)

26 To Lord Kames (25 February 1767)

281

(5)

27 Causes of the American Discontents Before 1768 (7 January 1768) z

286

(8)

28 The Somersett Case and the Slave Trade (20 June 1772)

294

(1)

29 Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One (11 September 1773)

295

(7)

30 An Edict by the King of Prussia (22 September 1773)

302

(5)

31 On a Proposed Act to Prevent Emigration ([December?] 1773)

307

(6)

32 Proposed Articles of Confederation (21 July 1775)

313

(4)

33 The Morals of Chess (before 28 June 1779)

317

(4)

34 To Madame Brillon: The Whistle (10 November 1779)

321

(2)

35 To Joseph Priestly (8 February 1780)

323

(2)

36 To Joseph Priestly (7 June 1782)

325

(2)

37 To Richard Price (13 June 1782)

327

(1)

38 To Robert Morris (25 December 1783)

328

(2)

39 Remarks Concerning the Savages of North-America (1783)

330

(6)

40 To Sarah Franklin Bache (26 January 1784)

336

(5)

41 Information to Those Who Would Remove to America (February 1784)

341

(8)

42 To Benjamin Vaughan (26 July 1784)

349

(5)

43 At the Constitutional Convention (June-September 1787)

354

(10)

44 Queries and Remarks Respecting Alterations in the Constitution of Pennsylvania (November 1789)

364

(5)

45 On the Slave Trade (25 March 1790)

369

(3)

Index

372

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