I fe- CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 189I BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032741823 E302.6.F8°F71 ""'™'""' ""^'^ The many-sided Franklin olin 3 1924 032 741 823 THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN rORTRAIT OK IIENJAMI.Y FRAN'KI.IN', AlJOUl' 1726. Original in Harvard Memorial Hall, Cambridge, Mass. THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN BY PAUL LEICESTER FORD AUTHOR OF "JANICE MEREDITH," "THE HONORABLE I'ETER STIRLING," "THE STORY OF AN UNTOLD LOVE, ' AND "THE TRUE GEORGE WASHINGTON " NEW YORK Zbc Century Co. 1899 Copyright, 1898, 1899, by The Century Co. THE DE VINNE PRESS. TO THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, FOUNDED BY FRANKLIN, AND NOW THE DEPOSITORY OF THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF HIS MANUSCRIPTS, AS AN EXPRESSION OF THE PERSONAL OBLIGATION OF THE AUTHOR, THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED. CONTENTS PAGE I. Family Relations I II. Physique: Theories and Appetites 41 III. Education 86 IV. Religion ....... 131 V. Printer and Publisher .... 177 VI. Writer and Journalist .... 220 VII. Relations with the Fair Sex 263 VIII. Jack of all Trades .... 308 IX. The Scientist 351 X. The Humorist . . . . 388 XI. Politician and Diplomatist . 418 , XII. Social Life 467 INDEX S" ii i^ LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PORTRAIT OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, ABOUT 1726. . .Frontispiece Original in Harvard Memorial Hall, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Drawn by W. B. Closson, from original painting. PAGE FACSIMILE OF ENTRY OF FRANKLIN'S BIRTH IN BOS- TON TOWN RECORDS I BOOK-PLATE OF JOHN FRANKLIN 2 Original in the possession of C. R. Lichtenstein, Boston. ANN FRANKLIN'S GRAVESTONE S Granary Burying-Ground, Boston. Drawn by C. A. Vanderhoof. FRANKLIN'S MONUMENT TO HIS PARENTS 7 Granary Burying-Ground, Boston. Drawn by C. A. Vanderhoof. LETTER OF MARY FRANKLIN 10 In the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. FAMILY ACCOUNT IN FRANKLIN'S WRITING 15 In the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. THE WIDOW READ'S ADVERTISEMENT 19 Franklin's mother-in-law. GOVERNOR WILLIAM FRANKLIN, BY FLAXMAN 22 From a medallion in possession of Sir J. Lumsden Propert. MEMORIAL TABLET TO MRS. WILLIAM FRANKLIN 24 In the chancel of St. Paul's Church, New York. Drawn by C. A. Vanderhoof. WILLIAM TEMPLE FRANKLIN 27 From a medallion by Flaxman. In the collection of Sir J. Lumsden Propert. ADVERTISEMENT REGARDING THE DEATH OF FRANCIS FOLGER FRANKLIN FROM SMALLPOX 29 From Franklin's " Pennsylvania Gazette." FRANCIS FOLGER FRANKLIN 30 Younger son of Benjamin Franklin. Drawn by George F. Arata, after original portrait in possession of Mrs. E. D. Gillespie, Philadelphia. ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE RICHARD BACHE 33 From an original painting by Hoppner, 1790, in possession of Miss Constantia Albert. MRS. RICHARD BACHE (SARAH FRANKLIN) 37 Daughter of Benjamin Franklin. After the Hoppner portrait painted in 1792, in possession of Mrs. Duncan S. Walker, Washington, D. C. GRAVESTONE OF FRANCIS FOLGER FRANKLIN 39 In the Franklin burial plot in Christ Church Cemetery, Philadelphia. FULL-LENGTH PORTRAIT OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 40 From a copperplate, after a drawing by L. C. de Carmontelle. In the collection of Clarence S. Bemen, Philadelphia. BIRTHPLACE OF FRANKLIN IN MILK STREET, JANU- ARY 6, 170S-6, O. S 41 From a lithograph in the Metropolitan Museum, New York. EAST PROSPECT OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, 1754 (?) 43 From a print in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. FRANKLIN'S NOTIFICATION TO ATTEND DUBOURG'S FUNERAL 45 From the original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. FACSIMILE OF THE TITLE-PAGE OF THOMAS TRYON'S BOOK 48 From a copy in possession of Paul Leicester Ford. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S WINE-GLASS 53 Drawn by Harry Fenn, after a photograph of the original in the Historical So- ciety of Pennsylvania. DRINKING-SONG IN FRANKLIN'S HAND'WRITING 56 In the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. ARCHBISHOP JOHN CARROLL 62 After portrait by Stuart, in possession of Georgetown College, Washington, D. C. BRITISH DOCTORS WITH WHOM FRANKLIN WAS IN- TIMATE 67 Sir William Watson, M. D., F. R. S., John Fothergill, M. D., F. R. S., Sir John Pringle, M. D,, F. R. S. Drawn by Kenneth H. Miller, from old pictures. FRANKLIN'S ACCOUNT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HOS- PITAL 71 From the original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. THE PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL 73 From an old copperplate in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. FRIEDRICH ANTON MESMEP 74 From an old French print. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE TITLE-PAGE OF THE REPORT OF THE ROYAL COM- MISSION ON MESMERISM 75 From Franklin's own copy in the Pennsylvania Historical Society. COUNT ALESSANDRO DI CAGLIOSTRO 77 After an old engraving by F. Bonneville. JACQUES-ETIENNE MONTGOLFIER 79 From an old French print, after a portrait painted by his daughter. MONTGOLFIERS FIRST BALLOON 80 From the "Town and Country Magazine," London, 1783. JEAN INGENHOUSZ, M. D 82 From a print. JOHN JONES, M. D 84 Drawn by Kenneth H. Miller, from an old print. FACSIMILE OF A POEM IN FRANKLIN'S HANDWRITING 85 From Smith's "American Historical and Literary Curiosities." MEDAL GIVEN BY THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM THE FRANKLIN FUND 85 ADVERTISEMENT OF GEORGE BROWNELL 87 From the "Pennsylvania Gazette," in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. COTTON MATHER 89 After a print by Henry Pelham. TITLE-PAGE OF FIRST EDITION OF COTTON MATHER'S "ESSAY UPON THE GOOD" 90 In the Boston Public Library. LETTER OF FRANKLIN'S UNCLE BENJAMIN TO THE FRANKLIN KIN IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1724 92 From the original in the possession of Paul Leicester Ford. GOVERNOR WILLIAM BURNET OF NEW YORK 95 Drawn by Kenneth H. Miller, from a print. BIRCH'S VIEW OF THE OLD LIBRARY COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA, 1799 97 Original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. FRANKLIN'S MAGIC SQUARE OF SQUARES 98 From the " Gentleman's Magazine," 1768. FRANKLIN'S MAGIC ^ - 99 From his manuscript in ( 'osophical Society, Philadelphia. ii* 1 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE THE TWO EARLIEST ADVERTISEMENTS CONCERNING THE LIBRARY COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA loo From Franklin's " Pennsylvania Gazette," in the Historical Society of Penn- sylvania. FRANKLIN'S ACCOUNT WITH THE LIBRARY COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA io3 From his ledger in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. FRANKLIN'S INSCRIPTION FOR A TABLET FOR THE LIBR.'\RY COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA 104 Original in the Department of State, Washington. THE INSCRIPTION FOR THE LIBRARY COMPANY ACTU- ALLY ADOPTED BY THE TRUSTEES 105 From the tablet in wall of library. TITLE-PAGE OF FRANKLIN'S "PROPOSALS RELATING TO THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH" 107 In the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. THE REVEREND WILLIAM SMITH no After the painting by Gilbert Stuart, in the possession of Dr. John H. Brinton, Philadelphia. PART OF FIRST PAGE OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY AS DRAWN UP BY FRANK- LIN AND FRANCIS, 1749 112 In the University of Pennsylvania. THE PAGE OF SIGNATURES OF THIS CONSTITUTION.. 113 THE PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY 116 From a pencil-drawing made by Du Simitiere, in the possession of the Library Company of Philadelphia. SCHOOL BILL FOR FRANKLIN'S NEPHEW AND SON .... 119 From the original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. FRANKLIN'S DEGREE OF M. A. FROM HARVARD COL- LEGE, 1753 121 Original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. A LETTER OF FRANKLIN'S IN FRENCH 124 In the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. TITLE-PAGE OF EMMONS'S SERMON ON FRANKLIN'S GIFT OF BOOKS 128 In the Boston Public Library. FRANKLIN'S LIBRARY CHAIR, SHOWING THE SEAT TURNED UP TO FORM A LADDER 130 In the possession of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE BAPTISM RECORD OF FRANKLIN 131 From records of the Old South Church, Boston. OLD SOUTH CHURCH, BOSTON 135 WILLIAM WOLLASTON 138 From an engraving by Vertue, after a portrait attributed to William Hogarth. TITLE-PAGE OF WOLLASTON'S " RELIGION OF NATURE" 140 From the copy in the possession of Paul Leicester Ford. TITLE-PAGE OF FRANKLIN'S "WICKED TRACT" 143 In the Congressional Library. TITLE-PAGE OF FRANKLIN'S PRIVATE DEVOTIONAL BOOK 145 In the Department of State, Washington. TITLE-PAGE OF ONE OF FRANKLIN'S PAMPHLETS ON THE HEMPHILL CONTROVERSY 148 In the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. TITLE-PAGE OF ONE OF FRANKLIN'S PAMPHLETS ON THE HEMPHILL CONTROVERSY 151 In the Boston Public Library. A SOUTHEAST VIEW OF CHRIST'S CHURCH, PHILA- DELPHIA, 1787 153 From a print in the " Columbian Magazine." REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD 156 From an engraving by Trotter of a portrait by Russell. LORD LE DESPENSER 161 From a print in the possession of Paul Leicester Ford. TITLE-PAGE OF LE DESPENSER'S AND FRANKLIN'S ABRIDGMENT OF THE PRAYER-BOOK 163 From the copy in the Congressional Library. THOMAS PAINE 165 Engraved by W. Sharp, after a portrait by Romney. From a print in the pos- session of E. G. Kennedy. THE PAGES OF FRANKLIN'S MOTION FOR PRAYERS IN THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 168, 169 In the Department of State, Washington. FIRST PAGE OF FRANKLIN'S PRIVATE DEVOTIONAL BOOK 172 In the Department of State, Washington. OLD QUAKER MEETING-HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA (WHERE FRANKLIN WENT TO SLEEP) 176 Southwest comer of Second and Market streets. Court-house in the middle of the street. Drawn by George A. Williams, after an old lithograph. xiii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE BILL FOR "PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE" IN FRANKLIN'S HANDWRITING 177 Original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. FIRST ISSUE PUBLISHED BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN OF "THE NEW ENGLAND COURANT" i8i, 182 From the original in the British Museum. GOVERNOR KEITH 186 From the portrait in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. PRESS AT WHICH FRANKLIN WORKED IN WATTS'S PRINT- ING-OFFICE, LONDON, 172s 189 It is owned by Mrs. Felicia M. Tucker of New York, and is in the custody of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington. DISSOLUTION OF THE FIRM OF B. FRANKLIN AND H. MEREDITH 191 From the original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. TITLE-PAGE OF FIRST ISSUE OF FRANKLIN'S PRESS. .. 194 In the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. FRANKLIN'S FIRST ISSUE OF " PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE " 198 From the original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. ADVERTISEMENT OF THE FIRST FOREIGN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES 202 In the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. ADVERTISEMENT OF " PAMELA " 205 In the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. SIGNATURE OF FRANKLIN'S PARTNER 206 Original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. INDENTURE OF JAMES FRANKLIN TO HIS UNCLE BEN- JAMIN 209 Original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. MR. JOHN BASKERVILLE, OF PLYMOUTH 2H WILLIAM STRAHAN 214 After the portrait in the possession of Clarence W. Bement. Half-tone plate en- graved hy Peter Aitken. A LETTER WRITTEN, BUT NEVER SENT, BY FRANKLIN TO STRAHAN 217 Original in the Department of State, Washington, D. C. CONTINENTAL PAPER MONEY DESIGNED BY FRANKLIN 219 xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE FRANKLIN SEAL 220 From an impression in possession of the American Philosophical Society, Phila- delphia. THE GRAMMAR FROM WHICH FRANKLIN LEARNED ENGLISH 223 REDUCED FACSIMILE OF A PORTION OF FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 229 By courtesy of the owner, Hon. John Bigelow. YEARLY VERSES OF PRINTER'S LAD OF THE " PENN- SYLVANIA GAZETTE " 232 In the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. TITLE-PAGE OF " THE GENERAL MAGAZINE AND HIS- TORICAL CHRONICLE " 235 From the copy in the Congressional Library, Washington. RESIDENCE OF LORD LE DESPENSER, WEST WYCOMBE 243 Drawn by Otto H. Bacher. FRANKLIN'S FICTITIOUS NEWSPAPER 246 From the copy in the Congressional Library, Washington. FRANKLIN'S FICTITIOUS CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE, USU- ALLY STYLED A PARABLE AGAINST PERSECUTION 253 In the possession of the author. WILLIAM FRANKLIN, ELDER SON OF BENJAMIN FRANK- LIN 258 After a pencil-diawing by Albert Rosenthal from the original painting, the prop- erty of Dr. Thomas Hewson Bache. FACSIMILE OF EPITAPH IN FRANKLIN'S HANDWRITING 262 ONE OF THE COLONLAL FLAGS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA " ASSOCIATORS," 1747 263 Designed by Franklin and made by the women of Philadelphia. From the " Penn- sylvania Magazine," by permission of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 266 Engraved by T. Johnson, from a painting by D. Martin. Property of the Earl of Stanhope. MRS. DEBORAH FRANKLIN 271 Engraved on wood by Henry Wolf, after the portrait in possession of Rev. F. B. Hodge, D, D., Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. POWER OF ATTORNEY TO DEBORAH FRANKLIN 277 In the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. GREENE HOMESTEAD, AT WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND.. 282 Drawn by Harry Fenn. Half-tone plate engraved by F. S. King. XV LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE GEORGIANA SHIPLEY HARE-NAYLOR 285 Half-tone plate engraved by Samuel Davis, after the miniature in the possession of Augustus J. C Hare. MRS. MARY (STEVENSON) HEWSON 288 Half-tone plate engraved by Peter Aitken, after the picture in the possession of C. S. Bradford, Philadelphia. ELIZABETH FRANgOISE, COUNTESS D'HOUDETOT 290 From a print. MME. HELVETIUS 295 Engraved on wood by Frank French, from a miniature in the possession of M. Alfred Dutens. WILLIAM TEMPLE FRANKLIN, 1790 3°° Grandson of Benjamin Franklin. From the original painting in the Trumbull collection of the Yale School of Art, New Haven, Connecticut. LADY JULIANA PENN 30S From a photograph by H. H. Hay Cameron, of portrait by Peter Van Dyke, in the possession of the Earl of Ranfurly. FRANKLIN'S INVITATION TO THE MARRIAGE OF MLLE. BRILLON, TO WHOM HE HAD WISHED TO MARRY HIS GRANDSON 307 (The indorsement is In Franklin's handwriting. ) From the original in the Ameri- can Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. ASSOCIATION BATTERY 308 From an original sketch in the possession of the Historical Society of Pennsyl- vania. A BILL OF JOSIAH FRANKLIN FOR CANDLES 310 In the Boston Public Library. SAMUEL FRANKLIN 313 Engraved on wood from the portrait In the possession of Samuel Franklin Em- mons, Washington, D. C. FRANKLIN'S OLD BOOK-SHOP, NEAR CHRIST CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA Drawn by Otto H. Bacher, from an old print. 317 A CATALOGUE 320 Owned by T. J. McKee. MEDAL COMMEMORATING AMERICAN LIBERTY 323 Designed and struck for Franklin in Paris, 1783. In the Metropolitan Museum of Art, JOSIAH WEDGWOOD 326 Painted by Reynolds. Engraved on wood by Peter Aitken, after portrait in the possession of Earl Crawford. XV i LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE JOHN FLAXMAN 331 Painted by George Romney. Engraved on wood by Henry Wolf. In the National Portrait Gallery, London. BENJAMIN WEST 335 Painted by himself. Engraved on wood by Henry Wolf, after portrait in the Royal Academy. MAP OF THE SIEGE OF LOUISBURG 339 In the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. BACK OF CONTINENTAL CURRENCY 349 Showing Franklin's use of the veining of leaves to make counterfeiting difficult. ENTRANCE TO LITTLE BRITAIN. LONDON, WHERE FRANKLIN LIVED IN 1726 350 From a water-color sketch in the British Museum. J. A. NOLLET 352 A. L. LAVOISIER 354 From a lithograph. SIR HANS SLOANE 356 Painted by Stephen Slaughter. Engraved on wood by T. Johnson. In the Na- tional Portrait Gallery, London. FRANKLIN'S MODEL OF "THE PENNSYLVANIA FIRE- PLACE '* 359 In the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. PETER COLLINSON 363 From a print. FACSIMILE OF LETTER FROM JOSEPH-IGNACE GUILLO- TIN TO FR.'^NKLIN 365.366 JOSEPH PRIESTLEY 369 Drawn by Mrs. Sharpies. Engraved on wood by Peter Aitken, from a pastel in the National Portrait Gallery, London. COPLEY MEDAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY 372 Awarded to Franklin for his discoveries in electricity. From a print in the "Gentleman's Magazine," December, 1753. JOSEPH-IGNACE GUILLOTIN 375 From an engraving by F. Bonneville. LETTER OF MESMER TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 378 Original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pa. SIR JOSEPH BANKS 381 Engraved on wood by Peter Aitken, from a portrait in the Royal Society, London. xvii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE CAPTAIN JAMES COOK 384 Painted by John Welber. Engraved on wood by Peter Aitken. In the National Portrait Gallery, London. ERASMUS DARWIN 386 Painted by Joseph Wright. Engraved on wood by T. Johnson. In the Na- tional Portrait Gallery, London. THE ENGLISH ALMANAC FROM WHICH FRANKLIN BOR- ROWED THE NAME 388 Original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. BENJAMIN WEST'S PENCIL-SKETCH OF FRANKLIN 39S In the possession of the Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker. TITLE-PAGE OF FIRST ISSUE OF POOR RICHARD 401 SPECIMEN PAGE OF "POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC" 406 FIRST ENGLISH EDITION OF " POOR RICHARD'S SAYINGS ' 408 From the copy in the possession of Paul Leicester Ford. TITLE-PAGE OF FIRST FRENCH EDITION OF " POOR RICH- ARD'S SAYINGS " 411 From the copy in the possession of Paul Leicester Ford. TITLE-PAGE OF POCKET-EDITION OF POOR RICHARD.. 415 From the copy in the Congressional Library, Washington. FRANKLIN'S CALLING CARD 417 SYMBOLICAL PRINT BY FRANKLIN 418 From the "Pennsylvania Gazette," 1754, in the Historical Society of Penn- sylvania. FRANKLIN'S " MODEST ENQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND NECESSITY OF A PAPER CURRENCY" 420 Original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. THOMAS PENN From a photograph by H. H. Hay Cameron, of portrait by Peter Van Dyke, i the possession of the Earl of Ranfurly. 425 CARICATURE PRINT OF FRANKLIN AND PAXTON RIOTERS .'428 From a print in the Ridgway Library, Philadelphia. A POLITICAL SQUIB AGAINST FRANKLIN 430 Original in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. CARICATURE OF ELECTION OF 1764 435 In the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. xviii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE ALEXANDER WEDDERBURN, LORD LOUGHBOROUGH. FIRST EARL OF ROSSLYN 439 From the original in the National Portrait Gallery, by William Owen, R. A. WILLIAM PITT. EARL OF CHATHAM 444 Painted by Richard Brompton. Engraved by T. Johnson. In the National Portrait Gallery. RICHARD. EARL HOWE, K. G 451 Painted by Henry Singleton. Engraved by E. Heinemann. In the National Portrait Gallery. THE HON. MRS. HOWE 455 From an engraving by Hopwood of the drawing by Craig. In the Emmet col- lection, Leno.Y Library, New York. A SYMBOLICAL PLATE DESIGNED BY FRANKLIN 458 Original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. DAVID HARTLEY 463 Engraved by Peter Aitken, from the painting by Walker of the portrait by Rom- ney, formerly owned by Clarence W. Bement, Esq. THE UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS TO NEGOTIATE THE TREATY OF PEACE (1783) 465 From a photograph given by Charles Sumner to the Boston Museum uf Fine Arts of an unfinished picture by Benjamin West, owned by Lord Belper. Or- der of figures from the left: Jay, Adams, Franklin, Laurens, Temple Franklin. FRANKLIN'S CHESS-BOARD. CHESSMEN, AND HOLDER.. 466 In the possession of C. S- Bradford, Philadelphia. VICTOR HUGO'S DRAWING OF FRANKLIN'S HOUSE AT PASSY 467 DR. FRANKLIN 470 From the miniature given by Dr. Franklin to his dear friend. Bishop Jonathan Shipley, on parting, on his return from England to America. In the collection of Augustus J. C. Hare. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S RESIDENCE IN LONDON, IN 1760. 475 In the Emmet collection, Lenox Library, New York. LORD KAMES 478 EARL OF HILLSBOROUGH, BY FLAXMAN 483 From a medallion in possession of Sir J. Lumsden Propert. LOUIS ALEXANDRE. DUG DE T.A ROCHEFOUCAULD 4S9 Deputy from the city of Paris to the National Assembly in 1780. From an en- graving by Fiesinger after a portrait by J. Guerin. xix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE A. B. J. TURCOT 493 From an engraving by C. H. Watelet after a drawing by Cochin the Younger. FRANKLIN'S NOTICE CONCERNING THE FRENCH COURT 498 From the original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. DINNER INVITATION OF LAFAYETTE TO FRANKLIN.... 502 From the original in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. 2I0N SOCIETY LUTHERAN CHURCH 507 Formerly at the southeast comer of Fourth and Cheney streets, Philadelphia, where Franklin's funeral service was held. After a print by Birch. FRANKLIN BURIAL PLOT IN CHRIST CHURCH CEME- TERY. PHILADELPHIA 5^9 From a photograph. XX THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN FACSIMILE OF ENTRY OF FRANKLIn'S BIRTH IN BUSIOiN TOWN KELOKDS. THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN FAMILY RELATIONS A MAN," wrote Franklin, " who makes boast of his ancestors doth but advertise his own insignifi- cance, for the pedigrees of great men are commonly known"; and elsewhere he advised: "Let our fathers and grandfathers be valued for t//eir goodness, ourselves for our own." Clearly this objection extended to pride of birth alone, and not to knowledge of one's forebears ; for Franklin himself displayed not a little interest in his progenitors, and when he went to England as the agent of his colony he devoted both time and travel to search- ing out the truth concerning them. Nor was he, in fact, wholly without conceit of family. In default of dis- covered greatness in his kindred, he expressed pleasure in an inference that the family name was derived from the old social order of small freeholders, and, therefore, that they were once the betters of the yeomen and feudatories. THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN Still another fact, too, suggests that he was not wholly indifferent to the world's knowledge of his lineage. Though his father questioned if they were entitled to use either of the Franklin arms, and added that " our circumstances have been such as that it hath BOOK-rLATE OF JOHN FRANKLIN. Original in the possession of C. R. Lichtenstein, Boston. hardly been worth while to concern ourselves much about these things any farther than to tickle the fancy a little," Benjamin did not hesitate to appropriate one of the Franklin coats of arms while yet only a master printer, for as early as 1751 he advertised: 2 FAMILY RELATIONS " Lost about 5 weeks since, a silver seal, with a Coat of Arms engrav'd, containing two Lions Heads, two Doves and a Dolphin. Whoever brings it to the Post-Office, shall have Five Shillings reward." Furthermore, in adopting this heraldic badge, he made objection to its being cheapened, by telling a soap- making relative that he " would not have him put the Franklin arms on " his cakes, although he did not mind a brother in the same business using the escutcheon as a book-plate. Franklin's inquiry into the history of his family re- sulted in the discovery that they had dwelt on some thirty acres of their own land in the village of Ecton, in Northamptonshire, upward of three hundred years, and that for many generations the eldest son had been village blacksmith — a custom so established previous to the removal across the Atlantic that the first immigrant bred up his eldest son to the trade in Boston. Fate, having other uses for Benjamin, carefully guarded him from Vulcan's calling by making him the youngest son of the youngest son for five generations. Josiah Franklin came to New England about 1685, with Ann, his wife, and three children, a number which swelled to seven within the next four years, the mother dying in childbed in 1689. Less than six months later the widower married Abiah Folger, and to this union there were born ten children, making in all seventeen. Writing of the large birth-rate in the colonies, Franklin asserted that it was rare for more than half of each family to reach adult life — a statement not derived from personal experience ; for, " out of seventeen children 3 THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN that our father had, thirteen hved to grow up and settle in the world." In common with other New England families of that day, the stock seemed to be weakened by this redundancy : though Josiah was one of five brothers, and the father of ten sons, there was not, when the eighteenth century ended, a single descendant of any one of the fifteen entitled to the surname. Benjamin, the "tithe," or tenth, of Josiah's sons, born January 6, 1 706, outhved them all. From his father he derived a heritage difficult to measure, but two of his qualities were singled out by the son as specially noteworthy: "a sound understanding and solid judgment in prudential matters, both in private and publick affairs," and a " mechanic genius " in being " very handy in the use of other tradesmen's tools." " It was .indeed a lowly dwelling we were brought up in," wrote one of the children, many years after, "but we were fed plentifully, made comfortable with fire and clothing, had seldom any contention among us, but all was harmony, especially between the heads, and they were universally respected, and the most of the family in good reputation; this is still happier living than mul- titudes enjoy." As this might indicate, Josiah Franklin, despite his struggle with poverty and his huge family, was a good parent to his youngest boy, giving heed to his moral, mental, and temporal beginnings. After such brief term of school as he could afford the lad, he took him into his own shop, till Ben made obvious his dislike to the cutting of wicks, the hanging of dips, and the cast- ing of soap. Taking pains then to discover his son's 4 FAMILY RELATIONS preferences, he finally apprenticed him as printer's devil to his son James. When the brothers quarreled, and appeal was made to the father, "judgment," the pren- tice says, " was generally in my favour." And though AN'N FRA.NKLIN S GRAVESTON'E. Granary Burying-ground, Boston. Ben earned his own livelihood from the time that he was twelve years of age, and saw his father only three times after he was sixteen, wherever he speaks of him it is with affection and respect. When he wrote to him, the letters began, " Honored Father," and ended, "I am your dutiful son," or "I am your affectionate and dutiful son " ; while Josiah Franklin, in turn, began THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN his letters, " Loving Son," and ended one, " With hearty love." More warmly still the son spoke of his father and mother in a letter to his sister, whom he chided because " you have mentioned nothing in your letter of our dear parents," writing again, during the final illness of his father: "Dear Sister, I love you tenderly for your care of our father in his sickness." Josiah Franklin died in 1745, leaving an estate valued at twenty-four hundred dollars. In Franklin's autobiography there is only the barest mention of his mother, Abiah, and merely as the daughter of " one of the first settlers of New England." Presumably this silence was due to the eighteenth- century attitude toward women more than to any want of affection, for the two corresponded with regularity, even after the mother was " very weak and short of breath — so that I cannot sit up to write altho' I sleep well o' nights and my cough is better and I have a pretty good stomach to my victuals," and she had to beg her son to " please excuse my bad writeing and inditing for all tell me I am too old to write letters." To her Franklin sent gifts of various kinds, including " a moidore . . which please to accept towards chaise hire, that you may ride warm to meetings this winter." Upon her death, in 1752, he wrote his sister Jane: " I received yours with the affecting news of our dear mother's death. I thank you for your long continued care of her in her old age and sickness. Our distance made it impracticable for us to attend her, but you have supplied all. She has lived a good life, as well as long one, and is happy." 6 FAMILY RELATIONS Franklin paid for tlie stone which marked the grave of his parents, and wrote for it an inscription which vouched that " He was a pious and prudent man ; She a discreet and virtuous woman " ; and though elsewhere FRANKLIN b MONUMENi 10 HIb PARENTS. Granary Bur>'ing-ground, Boston. he cites the conventional epitaph as the extreme form of falsehood, he was certainly justified in this inscrip- tion. " Honor thy father and mother — i. e. live so as to be an honor to them tho' they are dead," he made 7 THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN Poor Richard advise his readers, and for once preacher and practiser were united. "Among the Chinese," he noted, with approval, " the most ancient, and from long experience the wisest of nations, honor does not descend, but ascends. If a man, from his learning, his wisdom, or his valor, is promoted by the emperor to the rank of Mandarin, his parents are immediately endded to all the same ceremonies of respect from the people that are es- tabhshed as due to the Mandarin himself; on the supposition that it must have been owing to the education, instruction, and good example afforded him by his parents, that he was rendered capable of serving the public." Of his relations with the sixteen brothers and sisters it is impossible to deal with any fullness. Four of the brothers died young, and a fifth, taking to the sea, was so little an element in the family life that Benjamin remembered " thirteen (some of us then very young) all at one table, when an entertainment was made at our house on the occasion of the return of our brother Josiah, who had been absent in the East Indies and unheard of for nine years." If this brother, who soon after was lost at sea, was apparently a small component in Franklin's life, he none the less influenced it materi- ally, since from him the youngster imbibed a keen desire to be a sailor, and his father's fear that he would run away was a potent motive for letting the boy leave the trade of soap-making. As already mentioned, Benjamin did not get on well with the half-brother to whom he was bound to learn printing. James Franklin was only ten years older than his apprentice, and very quickly the boy made himself as expert as his brother, who, if we are 8 FAMILY RELATIONS to believe Franklin, turned jealous, and on occasion beat him with unnecessary severity ; though, in charging that his master was passionate, the printer's boy con- fessed that he himself was saucy and provoking. James Franklin was forbidden presently by the government to print his newspaper, the " New England Courant," and it was continued, by a subterfuge, in Benjamin's name, the indenture being canceled to make the trick a little less barefaced. A-A^ilin g himself _n£__fhrs^ffrhni>ql releasej_Fraiikliru-lef-tJiis_brother's service — an act that he later acknowledged to be his first serious " erratum," anlTlme which set James Franklm to advertismg tor " A Likely Lad for an Apprentice," little recking how likely a lad he had lost. For a number of years the breach thus made continued to exist, though the mother urged reconciliation on them both. After James Franklin's death, a turn of Fortune's wheel led Franklin to take the eldest son of this brother as an apprentice ; and though he records that " Jemmy Franklin when with me was always dissatisfied and grumbling," yet from the moment the apprenticeship was over " he and I " became " Good friends." He helped the boy to estab- lish himself as a printer at New Haven, and again at Newport, sent him occasional gifts of paper, printing- ink, etc., and loaned him money to the extent of over two hundred pounds to buy types and a stock of books and stationery. That the old grudge was forgotten is proved, too, by Franklin's will, in which he left as much to the descendants of James Franklin as to the descendants of his other brothers and sisters. He seems, indeed, to have hated family broils or aliena- 9 , — ; ^ A "' T) ym{ isou nf Ucc£ ^. ^/f /v,^^2r (fl .^jYuytf ^i-if^ LiL-i [mil.' iV iStCJitt-t^^^Cui: -^ I |;5^ U^ iau.c ^ i-^t^ui< aJ~) ^y^t^-frzc ja^ L^'U^t- :hC/. li-gnt t^cct- ^^ch£ i^^f^i^ LETTER OF MARY FRANKLIN. In American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pa, FAMILY RELATIONS tion, and when a sister once appealed to him to espouse her side of a disagreement, he rephed : " If I were to set myself up as a judge . . . between you and your brother's widow and children, how unquahfied must I be, at this distance, to determine rightly, especially having heard but one side. They always treated me with friendly and affectionate regard ; you have done the same. What can I say between you, but that I wish you were reconciled, and that I will love that side best that is most ready to forgive and oblige the other ? You will be angry with me here, for put- ting you and them too much upon a foodng ; but I shall nev- ertheless be, dear sister, your truly affectionate brother." More direct aid was afforded his two own brothers, John and Peter, both of whom set out in life in their father's trade of soap- and candle-making. Although Benjamin objected to their stamping the Franklin arms on their cakes of soap, he ordered quantities of their wares from them both, which his wife retailed in his book-shop in Philadelphia, and increased the sale by recurrent advertisements in Franklin's paper, which an- nounced with each consignment : " Just imported, another Parcel of "SUPER FINE CROWN SOAP. " It cleanses fine Linens, Muslins, Laces, Chinees, Cambricks &c. with Ease and Expedition, which often suffer more from the long and hard Rubbing of the Washer, through the ill Quahdes of the Soap they use, than the Wearing. It is excel- lent for the Washing of Scarlets, or any other bright and curi- ous Colours, that are apt to change by the Use of common Soap. The Sweetness of the Flavor and the fine Lather it immediately produces, renders it pleasant for the Use of Bar- bers. It is cut in exact and equal Cakes neady put up, and sold at the New Printing Office, at is. per Cake." 1 1 THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN Neither brother, however, seems to have prospered in the business, for when Frankhn became Deputy Post- master-General he made John postmaster of Boston, and Peter postmaster of Philadelphia. Of the former Franklin says, in his autobiography, that " he always lov'd me " ; and though there was some family joking about Peter's perpetual doctoring of himself, so that " he cures himself many times a day," Benjamin seems to have been fond of him also, showing evident grief when " it pleased God at length to take from us my only remaining brother." He aided the two widows, establishing one in business, and continuing the other as postmistress, thus making her, so far as is known, the first woman to hold public office in America. " He that has neither fools nor beggars among his kindred, is the son of thunder-gust," remarked Poor Richard; and Franklin's sisters were no more prosper- ous in life than were his brothers. The eldest, Eliza- beth, when over eighty years old, came to extreme poverty, and her relatives consulted the only successful member of the family as to whether her house and " fine things " should be sold. " As having their own way is one of the greatest comforts of life to old people," Benjamin replied, " I think their friends should endeavour to accommodate them in that, as well as in any thing else. When they have long lived va a house, it be- comes natural to them ; they are almost as closely connected with it as the tortoise with his shell ; they die, if you tear them out of it ; old folks and old trees, if you remove them, it is ten to one that you kill them ; so let our good old sister be no more importuned on that head. We are growing old fast ourselves, and shall expect the same kind of indulgences ; if we give them, we shall have a right to receive them in our turn. And 12 FAMILY RELATIONS as to her few fine things, I think she is in the right not to sell them, and for the reason she gives, that they will fetch but little ; when that little is spent, they would be of no further use to her ; but perhaps the expectation of possessing them at her death may make that person tender and careful of her, and helpful to her to the amount of ten times their value. If so, they are put to the best use they possibly can be." A small bequest was made in Franklin's will to his sister Ann's children and grandchildren. Several of these drifted to London before the Revolution, and appealed to their uncle, when he came to France, for various kinds of assistance. One was " Obliged to Worke very hard and Can But just git the common necessarys of life," and therefore has " thoughts of going into a family as housekeeper . . having lived in that station for several years and gave grate satisfac- tion." She sought his aid in securing the promotion of her son, then in the British navy — a peculiar request, considering Franklin's relations, or lack of relations, at the moment, with the British government. Toward another, Jonathan Williams, the uncle seems to have been well disposed. He took charge of his education while in London, made the young fellow his secretary for a time, and finally was instrumental in having him made commercial agent of the United States in France during the Revolution, an appointment which caused first " oblique Censures," and ultimately outspoken de- nunciations. Williams was accused of dishonesty, and his uncle promptly wrote : " I have no desire to screen Mr. Williams on account of his being my nephew ; if he is guilty of what you charge him with, I care not how soon he is deservedly punished and 13 THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN the family purged of him; for I take it that a rogue liv- ing in a family is a greater disgrace to it than one hanged out of it." Fortunately, the nephew was able to clear himself; but the appointment had caused scandal, and had been one source of the American divisions in Paris, as well as in the Continental Congress. Another unfortunate result was that Williams later became embarrassed in some private ventures in France, and Franklin unjusti- fiably used the influence of his position to secure from the French government a siirseance as regarded his creditors. Franklin's sister Sarah died shortly after marriage — " a loss without doubt regretted by all who knew her, for she was a good woman." Her husband, Josiah Davenport, encouraged by his brother-in-law, removed to Philadelphia, and opened a bakery, where he sold " Choice middling bisket," varied by occasional offerings of " Boston loaf sugar " and " choice pickled and spiced Oisters in Cags." One of her sons, on the death of Peter Franklin, was appointed by his uncle postmaster of Philadelphia ; but he does not appear to have been competent, and was soon superseded by another ap- pointee, and given a smaller office under the govern- ment. Of all his sisters, the youngest, Jane, was, so Franklin told her, " ever my peculiar favorite " ; and he took pride in the news that she had " grown a celebrated beauty." Evidently it was not merely a fraternal view, for the girl was married at fifteen, the brother writing her, upon the event, that he had " almost determined " 14 pz„^,.-^',:i .1 — - i^///-<^r6 '^^ /// ..a., b .^-.^.. ^.^,,..,. ^.^,^^, ^^,.y^,../. /,,... /^-j.-f(^:, C, .^, ■.r>-V FAMILY ACCOUNT IN FRANKLIN S WRITING. In the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pa. /r/'^ j4^^ -^ -±4J- /3 A THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN to send her " a tea table, but when I considered the character of a good house wife was far preferable to that of being only a pretty gentlewoman, I concluded to send you a spinning ivhecl, which I hope you will accept as a small token of my sincere love and affection." And in this monitory strain the aged brother of twenty continued : " Sister, farewell, and remember that modesty as it makes the most homely virtue amiable and charming, so the want of it infallibly renders the most perfect beauty disagreeable and odious. But when that brightest of female virtues shines among other perfections of body and mind in the same per- son, it makes the woman more lovely than an angel. Excuse this freedom, and use the same with me. I am, dear Jenny, Your loving brother." A very large progeny resulted from this marriage, in all of whom Franklin took an interest. " My compliments to my new niece, Miss Abiah, and pray her to accept the enclosed piece of gold, to cut her teeth ; it may after- wards buy nuts for them to crack," he wrote of one arrival ; and gave material help to the children as they grew up, aiding one to sell the soap he made ; taking a second as an apprentice in his printing-office, and after- ward assisting in his estabhshment in that business ; endeavoring to get a government position for a third ; and, on the marriage of a fourth, sending a gift of " fifty pounds, lawful money," to be laid out in " furniture as my sister shall think proper." From this niece he re- ceived an exuberant acknowledgment, declaring that: "My Heart, has ever been suseptible of the warmest gratitude for your frequent Benefactions to the whole Family, but your 16 FAMILY RELATIONS last kind, unexpected, as well as undiserved, Noble presents in particular to me, calls for a particular acknowledgment from me. Except then dearest sir, my most sincere and hearty Thanks, with a promise, that your Kindness shall ever be gratefully remembered and your donation be made the best use of." Jane herself carried this admiration even to the point of veneration ; yet when absent from her brother she expressed her regret, having " had time to reflect and see my error, in that I sufTered my diffidence or the awe of your superiority to prevent the familiarity I might have taken with you, and which your kindness to me might have convinced me would be acceptable." With extreme reverence she wrote to Franklin that " it is not Profanity to compare you to our Blessed Saviour who Employed much of his time while on Earth in doing good to the body's as well as souls of men & I am shure I think the compareson just." This adoration is the more excusable when Franklin's services to her are weighed. Her husband's death left her a large family to rear, and but for Benjamin's con- stant eking out of her means it would have fared hard with the widow. She told her brother that her happi- ness was derived from " yr Bounty without wich I must have been distressed as much as many others," and assured him that she could not " find expression suitable to acknowledge my gratitude ; how I am by my dear brother enabled to live at ease in my old age." " My self and children have always been a tax upon you," she wrote to him, " but your great and uncommon good- ness has carried you cheerfully under it." Nor was Franklin's charity an enforced one. 2 17 THE MANY-SIDED FRANKLIN "You always tell me that you live comfortably," he chided, " but I sometimes suspect that you may be too unwilling to acquaint me with any of your difficulties, from an apprehension of giving me pain. I wish you would let me know precisely your situation, that I may better proportion my assistance to your wants. . . Lest you should be straightened during the present winter I send you iifty dollars." And not satisfied that she acknowledged all her needs, he questioned other relatives : '■ How has my poor old sister gone through the winter ? Tell me frankly whether she lives comfortably or is pinched. I am afraid she is too cautious of acquainting me of her difficulties, though I am always ready and wilHng to relieve her, when I am acquainted with them." Jane and Benjamin outlived all their brothers and sisters, and Franklin, upon the death of one of the last, said to her : " Of these thirteen there now remain but three. As our number diminishes, let our affection to each other rather increase." In one of her later letters the sister recurred to this, writing : " You once told me, my dear brother, that as our number of brethren and sisters lessened the affection of those of us that re- mained should increase to each other. You and I are now left ; my affection for you has always been so great I see no room for increase, and you have manifested yours for me in such large measure that I have no reason to suspect its strength." Jane Mecom alone of Josiah Franklin's seventeen children survived the famous son, and in his will Franklin left to her " a house and lot I have in Unity Street, Boston," gave her " the yearly sum of fifty pounds sterhng," and left a small sum of money to her descendants. 18 FAMILY RELATIONS " He who takes a wife, takes care," runs an aphorism that Poor Richard thought fit to embody in his Alma- nac ; and Frankhn, from his own experience, might have added, with the humorous quirk he so often used, " of his wife's relatives." When he took unto himself a helpmeet, he brought to live with them her mother, who henceforth conducted her trade at his printing- shop, making known to her customers, through adver- tisements in her son-in-law's newspaper, that "The 'J'HE Widow READ, removed from the upper End of Highftreet to the New PrinHng-Cfice near the Market, continues to make and fell her well- known Omtment for the ITCH, wuh which flie has cured abundance of People in and about this City for many Yean paft. It is always efte&ual for that purpofe, and never fails to perform the Cure fpecdily. It alfo kills or drives away all Sorts of Lice in once or twice ufing. It has no oifen(ive Smell, but rather a pleafant one ; and may be ufcd viirhouc the leaft Apprehenfion of Danger, even to a fucking Infant, being perfeftly innocent and fafe. Price 2 j. a Gallypot containing an Ounce ; which is fufficient to remove the moll inveterate Itch, and render the Skin clear and fmooth. She alfo continues to make and fell her exceilciu Family Sahe or Ointment, for Burns or Scalds, (Price i /, an Ounce) and feveral other Sorts of Ointments and Salves as ufual. At the fame Place may be had Lockyer's Pills, at 5 E R S T AN D IN G 'tis a current: Report, that my Son franch, who died lately of the Small Pox, had it by Inoculation ; and being defired to fati&fy the Publick in that Particular,; indfmach as fomc , People are, by. that Report Cjoin'